2018 Delightfully Japanese Summer

And so after our November 2017 Japan break, we planned a delightful Japanese summer break to experience summer heat in Japan.

Upon arrival, immediately loaded our Suica cards with much amount to spend for the whole duration of our holiday.

Typhoon Jebi has already exited Japan. So the summer feeling is back.  As I checked on our prior arrangements, all is set for my 2018 Mt. Fuji summer climb. After some days of acclimatization, we took off and boarded our reserved bus ride to the Fujisan Yoshida Trail Trailhead.

The Elusive Fujisan

It was a fine sunny day as I saw the horizon from where I was inside the bus. So suddenly, after several minutes more our bus stopped at Kawaguchico and we were all asked to disembark. The road to Stn. 5 is closed due to Typhoon Jebi debris.  We inquired and waited some more time to clearly know what has been happening.  We were confident that later, we will be permitted to go on and set foot on the magnificent Mt. Fuji.  Several minutes more, group of hikers were slowly taking off, going somewhere other than all our wish….Fujisan.  Soon enough, we had to leave as well and went someplace to mend our heartbreaks. Not again Fujisan.  But pretty good reason to be back next climbing season.

The Ice cave of Narusawa and Wind cave of Fugaku

We decided to go to Fugaku Fuketsu Wind cave located at the Fujisan forest complex.  The luscious forest was formed by the ashes of Fujisan’s past eruptions thousand s of years ago. Inside the complex lies Fugaku Fuketsu Wind cave, a breathtaking cave that brings guests into a different world.  Fugaku Fuketsu wind cave is a lateral cave that has a constant temperature of 3 degrees Celsius all year round. On a clear sunny summer day…..inside a freezing cave, I had to put on my jacket I brought for my Fujisan climb.

30 minutes hike southeast of  Fugaku Wind cave is another cave, the Narusawa Hyoketsu Ice cave.  A lava cave with an air hole in a vertical circular shape created after Fujisan’s outpouring of lava thousands of years ago. With my jacket on again, we traversed the Icy cold cave swiftly to avoid chills.

Reincarnation of an old MTB

Back at the city, after getting our refund on our supposedly bus transfers back to Shinjuku, We were one whole day and one whole night early of our schedule. Our reservation on Hakun-so Fujisan mountain hut has already been cancelled too.  Nothing particular to do, I spent some time on my brother’s MTB that has been idle for years.  When it finally gotten its fairly decent look minus the dense dusts, oiled its joints and cranks, bought new inner tube and there I was hitting the roads of Kodaira for a spin.

Going around is enjoyable that I get to discover many interesting places. The Farmers’ market with vegetables produced by Kodaira neighborhood, the Old Sento which I found very interesting for a foreigner like me, the laundry shop that when discovered, I immediately tried and enjoy washing our clothes,  the nostalgic Izakaya with very accommodating owners, the Kodaira Cemetery, the Higashi-Murayama Water Purification Plant, Toritsu Sayama Park and Tama Lake. And of course the ever respectful Japanese folks which always bowed their heads whenever I bowed mine as I greeted them everytime. 

Let's go to Kyoto!

After our Tokyo holiday, we boarded the impressive Japanese Shinkansen and went to Kyoto. During our week-long Kyoto stay, we get to appreciate several Kyoto spots.   Kiyomizu-Gojo is edifying, Saga Arashiyama is equally filling not to forget Fushimi Inari Taisha with its Shinto Shrines and numerous striking red torii.

Last stop Osaka

Next to Kyoto, we then traveled to Osaka by train.  Central Osaka compared to Kyoto is diversified due to tourists’ influx. Our first time visit to Osaka was rather food filling if not substantially foodie overload!

BEAR WITH ME PLEASE................STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION