Cycling Around Mount Fuji

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Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at our ryokan Kozan

Tateyama Alpine Route

I was REALLY looking forward to this part of the trip because I have seen the beautiful photos on the internet. But two days before we were supposed to reach, Kobayashi san sent me an email to inform me about a sudden maintenance that needed to be done at one part of the route. Usually people start from Tateyama and end up at Shinnanoomachi or vice versa. Because of this sudden maintenance, you can’t go from one end to the other. You have to stop just right before the maintenance part and turn back... your Tateyama Alpine Route won’t be complete. I just broke down and cried in the hotel room in Tokyo because I was so looking forward to it. And since we have already booked Unazuki-onsen, we can’t really back out. Chris consoled me that we will only miss out on walking across the dam so we decided to go ahead.

From Unazuki-onsen station, it takes about an hour and 45 mins to Tateyama station with a transfer at Terada. The entire Alpine route takes about 6-7 hours to complete. We went about ¾ to Kurobedaira then turned back so it took equally long. Left Unazuki at 8am,reached Tateyama about 10am, did the route, took more than 4 hours to get back to shimbashi and reached shimbashi only at 9:30pm =PPP very tiring.

But Tateyama is really beautiful. Murodo is the most exciting because you are virtually at the snowy mountain top! Right there is the highest hotel in Japan, Tateyama hotel, which I wanted to book but decided on Unazuki New Otani instead. I suggest that if you want to take it easy, you should stay one night at Unazuki-onsen and one night at Murodo then continue the trip. Or one night at unazuki-onsen and one night at matsumoto. We cheong like that v siong >.<|||

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