3. Tokyo, part 1

A good tailwind meant that we arrived into Narita ahead of schedule although it was rather strange to experience a takeoff before sunrise, an entire day pass, and then a sunset all within the space of a nine hour flight. Thankfully our luggage also arrived at the same time that we did and then with typical Japanese efficiency we were soon being whisked to our hotel in central Tokyo.

We then ran into our first, and hopefully our last, little problem. Unlike the UK it appears that in Japan, you will be given a smoking room at a hotel unless you have specifically prebooked a non-smoking one. This had never even crossed our minds when we booked and therefore at checkin there were no basic non-smoking left although there were some Executive rooms available as an upgrade. We opted to pay the premium rate and will bring the matter up with our TA later.

Having set the alarm for an early start the next morning we then drifted off very easily having completed our long journey.

Despite the local time being eight hours ahead of the U.K., we managed to sleep reasonably well and after breakfast joined our coach for a day out exploring Mt. Fuji and its surroundings. Now, as I had alluded to in an earlier post, the weather forecast for Tokyo for the day was not at all good and as we set off in a steady, persistent rain, the cloud began to lower even more. It was obvious that the only way we would be able to see the sacred mountain was when we were actually on it. So, by the time we reached the highest point accessible by road on the visibility was down to a few yards and we, along with the hundreds of tourists milling dejectedly around, were all decked out in coats and umbrellas. 

In the afternoon we drove around to the other side of the mountain and took a cable car to the top of the Hakone volcano where, if anything, the rain and visibility was even worse. On the plus side, the fact that we could smell the pungent odour of sulphur at least told us that we were in an area of volcanic activity. 

Once we had descended we took a short boating excursion across Lake Ashi, one of the five lakes which have formed in the volcanic caldera. At least the visibility was rather better at this lower level and the scenery was very reminiscent of the Scottish Lochs with mist clinging to the mountainsides and only partly obscuring the dense and still relatively green, forestry. 

The last part of the trip was a return to Tokyo by the famed bullet train. My word, when you are standing at a station and one of those machines passes through you get a sense of just how fast they go. They certainly make your local GWR intercity look like a children's train set, but unlike the non existent views of Mt. Fuji (which, of course we had absolutely no control over), the journey did not disappoint and ticked off a very long outstanding item on Claire's bucket list.

The final challenge for the day was then to find our way from Tokyo Station back to our hotel. We, along with another half dozen or so other day trippers staying at the same hotel, managed to get back to the correct metro station with relative ease. However, finding directions for the right exit for the hotel was proving a little more problematic until a local student appeared from nowhere, in good English asked if we needed assistance, instructed us to follow him and then guided us cheerfully to the correct door in no time. 

Part 2 should hopefully follow tomorrow if there is enough time as another very busy day is in store!