Our third day in Japan brought a welcome reprieve from the rain. Our first stop for the day was back at the bakery where we discovered those incredible Japanese curry doughnuts, paired with another round of coffee from Eight. With breakfast done, we walked to the Shinjuku bus station to check if buses to Kawaguchiko were running. To our delight, they were, so we purchased tickets and returned to our hotel to grab our luggage, ready to leave Tokyo behind for the scenic views of Kawaguchiko!
The bus ride to Kawaguchiko took about two hours, offering a scenic transition from Tokyo's urban sprawl to the lush, green countryside. We got a few glimpses of Mt Fuji from the bus but it quickly clouded over by the time we arrived. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we set off for a wander around the lake and the surrounding streets.
They had very cute swan paddle boats on the lake and we made a note to come back and hire one if the weather got better. We couldn’t resist stopping for some ice cream on our way back to the hotel to check in. We had matcha, peach, and lavender flavours, the peach being the most delicious!
Once again the rain began, soaking us as we scrambled back to the hotel. By the time we arrived, our feet were thoroughly drenched. Our spirits were quickly lifted when we saw our hotel room—a massive watermelon! It had lots of space with two queen beds that felt like a luxury after the tiny room in Tokyo.
When the rain finally slowed to a drizzle, we headed out to find dinner and settled on High Spirits izakaya. Run by a warm and friendly husband and wife team, the restaurant had a very cosy and welcoming atmosphere. We sat at the bar, right in front of the chef, and enjoyed a delicious meal of miso, edamame, pickled vegetables, truffle and CBD oil tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, and cold roast beef strips, all paired with a dry sake.
Fujikawaguchiko Day 2
The next day began with a traditional Japanese breakfast set at the hotel, a delicious yet unfamiliar start to the morning. The meal included miso soup, rolled egg, Japanese salted plums, pork meatballs and vegetables in broth, slices of ham, and a slice of orange. While it wasn’t the kind of breakfast we were used to, it was undeniably delicious—at least for Steph!
After breakfast, we ventured out in search of coffee, quickly realising that many places don’t open until later in the morning—a small adjustment we’re still getting used to.
Fortunately, the rain held off, so we decided to seize the opportunity and enjoy a walk around a portion of Lake Kawaguchi. Our route took us through Yagisaki Park, where we admired the serene views, and we made a stop at the Fujiomurosengen Shrine, which added a touch of history and culture to our stroll. However, after the last few days of heavy walking, our feet were beginning to protest, and hunger started to set in. We hopped on a bus to return to our starting point for lunch.
We enjoyed a satisfying lunch of ramen and Japanese chicken curry, which provided the perfect fuel for our next adventure—hiring a pastel pink swan peddle boat on the lake. What seemed like a leisurely activity turned out to be a bit more strenuous than expected! We suspect we got the dud swan, as other boats seemed to glide effortlessly across the water while we struggled to keep pace. The awkwardly short pedals didn’t help either, making it difficult to get a full rotation. It was still really fun and we certainly burned off some of our lunch calories!
Back at the hotel, we took some time to relax and update the blog. A couple of hours later, we noticed the sun had come out, so we ventured to the rooftop in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, the mountain remained hidden, but we still enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine.
We had planned to visit a bar for a drink, but it turned out that most of them were closed on Sundays. Instead, we headed to 7-Eleven and Lawson’s to gather an assortment of snacks and dinner items. Our haul included chicken inari, spicy chicken and sesame ramen, soy sauce chips, some interesting beers, sake, a sponge cake cream roll, and our new favorite dessert—the shine muscat tart!
Hallelujah, the sun is out
We woke up to a long-awaited sight, the sun was out and Mt. Fuji had finally reappeared from behind the clouds. The day began when Dave, ever the early riser, woke up at 5:15 a.m. to find blue skies peeking through the circular skylight in our room. Knowing this was our last chance to see Fuji before our departure, he roused Steph from her slumber (no easy task) so we could head out and capture the mountain in all its glory.
With our bags packed and breakfast finished, we caught the hotel shuttle to Kawaguchiko Station. From there, we boarded a bus to Mishima Station, where we would catch the Shinkansen to our next destination—Kyoto. As the bus pulled away from Kawaguchiko, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for the clear morning and the stunning views of Mt. Fuji.