Scaredy Cat Travels

Hakone & Mt. Fuji/Kawaguchiko 

Transportation: Eek. Still figuring this one out. There’s the way we should go and the way I want to go and they are definitely not the same. Hakone to Fuji is not one of my finer planning moments. 

This is the perfect example of how being a scaredy cat can alter your decision-making process. The first issue (non-anxiety related) was that I, when planning the itinerary, like many people unfamiliar with the geography, topography and choreography of a different country (or state – looking at you Americans who think because El Paso and Dallas are technically in the same state that it’s a quick ride between them), made some incorrect assumptions about Hakone and Fuji. On the Google Map, they look close. While they may not be that far apart, it’s a little like asking someone from East Dallas to drive to Fort Worth. Just not worth it. 

So there is a bus that is free (with the tourist pass) and faster that goes in between Hakone and the Fuji area, but by my calculations, this bus must go over a mountain pass or something equally terrifying although my YouTube searches have not yielded any proof of this. But based on the Utah story, I am hesitant to risk it. Someday later remind me to also tell you about the panic-inducing bus ride up the sometimes one-lane switchbacks on Mount Cassino in Italy. I literally lay on the floor of the bus so I couldn’t accidentally see out the windows. There were adorable Saint Bernards at the top wearing those little barrels on collars but it still wasn’t worth it. 

Bonus points to anyone who got the Princess & The Frog reference in the second paragraph. Rowan’s favorite movie character for much of his very young life was the Shadowman. Which explains a lot. 

Hotel: Kawaguchiko Urban Resort Villa 

Plans: See Mount Fuji from a million different locations. This is in theory because apparently seeing a ginormous volcano is harder than you’d think, so we might just be looking at clouds.

However, the most important plan this day is to shop for Mount Fuji souvenirs. After all that nature the day before, I’ll need a cheesy gift shop reboot. Thank goodness whoever manages merchandise for the area must be distantly related to me because if they can make it look at least sort of like Mount Fuji, they’ll manufacture it and sell it.

You may think I am exaggerating but this is the girl who skipped seeing the statue of David in Florence, Italy to shop. And does not regret it. I wandered into a locals area by accident, had a couple of conversations in my horrendous Italian and bought Ryan a beautiful pipe, so if I can get a Mount Fuji thimble or better yet, a cross-stitch magnet to match the one I have from Stonehenge, I will be happy even without actually seeing Fuji. 

To be clear, when I am saying the Fuji area, I mean we aren’t really going on the mountain but staying in the area around the lake by the mountain. The mountain does not open for climbing until July and, after hearing Ry’s stories, I have less than zero interest even if there is an enormous gift shop at the top.

Once I get my gift shop fix, we’ll go mountain hunting by sort of repeating the activities from the day before minus the boiling hell valley. There is a boat to ride across Lake Kawaguchi; there is a ropeway up a mountain; there is a lovely shrine to see.

At some point in the afternoon, we’ll check in to our villa. We have the elements of a Japanese barbecue dinner being delivered to the townhouse so we can grill out in our little backyard – hopefully while looking at a ginormous volcano.

Fun Fact – Please note the verb usage above. In the South, we do not “barbecue” as a verb. We make barbecue. We eat barbecue. And we do it really well, I might add. But when we are outside cooking something on a grill, we are grilling. Even if it becomes barbecue. 

The $$$ – The transportation is included in the tourist pass if we use it. There may be a small fee to go up to the pagoda. The villa with dinner included is $450. My budget for Fuji souvenirs is $1000.

Scaredy Cat rating: So many paws. In addition to rant(s) above about mountain roads, it looks like to me that the Mount Fuji area is a prime area for bees and other stingy things. Have you seen a picture of those giant murder hornets? If not, there’s one below for your viewing pleasure. They’re from Japan. There is a distinct chance that Rowan or I will push the other one off one of these overlooks while trying to escape from a bee on a flower thirty feet away. I say this confidently based on a near-death experience in Vail and Rowan was much smaller then. 

There is also a little nervousness about our accommodations. They look amazing with direct views of Fuji across the lake, but they are in a small resort made up of a few townhouse and condo-style buildings. I worry that there is a greater chance of language issues here. My Japanese is non-existent.

Hotel #5 Extended  

There are several hotels in the Mount Fuji area that I dream about – first is Hoshinoya Mount Fuji Hotel and the second is Ubuya. But Hoshinoya was out of my budget and not designed for a family of three. Ubuya was originally within the budget (not the room shown below however) but I wavered and prices went up. In the end, because I switched dates, it wouldn’t have worked out anyway. Plus I think we will be really happy where we ended up which is the Kawaguchiko Urban Villas.

Hoshinoya Mount Fuji

Ubuya

Kawaguchiko Urban Villas is a small resort right by Lake Kawaguchi near a large park filled with flowers (and a nature center with a gift shop!). It is very close to one of the bus stops and many small restaurants. There are several room types available. I choose a townhouse style with two bedrooms, a private back garden and oh, look, a giant tub!

Fun Fact – Kawaguchi is the name of the lake and “ko” means lake. So you either say Lake Kawaguchi or Kawaguchiko. If you say Lake Kawaguchiko you are really saying Lake Kawaguchi Lake so the sign below is redundant. Oh, the things I have learned on YouTube this year.