Tokyo: See Mt. Fugi from Hakone National Park

Tokyo, with a population of 13 million and a meaning of Eastern Capital, is the largest city in the world with more tourist attractions than a person can see in a week. Fortunately, we did not need to decide what to do because Ken wanted to go to Mt. Fugi, where he participated in cold weather training when he was in the Marines. Unfortunately, Hakone National Park that offers great views of the mountain is usually a 2 1/2-hour drive from downtown Tokyo. And if there is an accident on the highway going east from Tokyo, it can be even longer, which is what it was for us. Fortunately, we were on a ship's tour and had a wonderful tour guide, Oka, who used simple black drawings on white paper to teach us words and numbers in Japanese and kept us entertained with the history of the dynasties, Samurai, Shoguns and emperors. In 1868, the Shoguns returned political power to the emperor, who is is symbol of the nation, much like the Queen of England. Unfortunately, if the weather is rainy or cloudy, one may never see Mt. Fugi, as our guide's travelers experienced two days before when it snowed or a fellow passenger who saw the mountain only once when she was in Tokyo for a month. Fortunately, our day was crisp and clear but chilly. We did encounter snow flurries but also a gorgeous view of the famous peak with only a few clouds at the top.

As we drove out of this very modern city in rush hour, we witnessed people scurrying to work, dressed for the cold weather, mostly wearing black or dark colored overcoats with some sporting surgical masks. Most workers commute by subways or trains rather than face the traffic jams in their automobiles. On the ride that included stop-and-go traffic due to an accident, some of us, including me, showed our tourist side because we could never obtain a good picture of Mt. Fuji that kept appearing and disappearing in between the trees and the hills. Ken was upset when I asked him to tell me again why we came on this tour. If only our tour guide had told us we could take as many photographs of Mt. Fuji as we wanted when we reached Hakone National Park. We actually saw a cherry tree in blossom. When asked if the residents ate the cherries, Oka stated that only the wild birds eat them because while they look beautiful, they cause stomachaches.

Once we reached the park, we donned every piece of winter clothing that we had packed and stood in line to board the Hakone Ropeway, that offered views of the Owakundani Crater, which spews volcanic steam and fumes, and Lake Ashi, with its crystal blue waters. This area was originally called the Valley of Hell but the name was changed in 1873 to the Valley of Great Boiling. Once we were off the ropeway, we climbed the steps and hill to the boiling springs at the top where I took photographs of Punxsutawney Phil and two cats who were enjoying the heat.

On our way to the restaurant for lunch, Oka told us about the legend of Lake Ashi. A dragon with nine heads lived in the lake and ate little girls. A monk with magical powers subdued the dragon by tying it to the bottom of the lake with an iron chain. The dragon deeply regretted what it had done and became the guardian of the lake. On July 31, the Summer Festival celebrates the dragon with nine heads. Lunch was delicious but the portions were small. The main entree would be called a Seafood Trio appetizer on the Pacific Princess. When our bus pulled away from the restaurant, Oka told us to wave good-bye. We were surprised that the staff had exited the restaurant after us to bid us farewell.

The ferry boat cruise on Lake Ashi was delightful. I snapped a photograph of two swan-shaped boats that I told everyone I would enter in the ship's photographic contest for seascapes. However, in our scurry to pack for our overland trip to Angkor Wat, I failed to do so. But I am sure that my photograph, which was more comical than serious, would not have won over the top photograph of a sunset over the ocean in a perfectly calm sea. Oka told us to make a wish at the tori gate because it would come true. So we did.

On our trip back to the ship, we stopped at a shopping mall that offered only food products. We all enjoyed the free samples and liked taking photographs of the realistic looking plastic food, which is a specialty of Japan. When cheeseburgers were introduced in the country, these plastic models helped the citizens to think that maybe cheeseburgers would be worth trying. We also enjoyed seeing the buildings in Toyko lite up at night and snapped photographs out of the bus' windows like Japanese tourists would in a major city in any other country.

As for our wish at the tori gate, we took Oka's suggestion and make this wish:
Bad fortune be driven away.
Good fortune will come to you.
Safe voyage is guaranteed.
Happy sailing to the Pacific Princess!