7th Day Fuji (2nd day in Fuji)

 On your 2nd day, you can head to Chureito Pagoda. We checked out from the hotel and rented a locker in the Kawaguchi station and left our overnight bags to continue with our Fuji Tour.  

From Kawaguchiko Train Station take a train to Shimoyoshida station (14 min ride) and walk 20mins of plains and steep stairs! You can use your Suica card here.

Crossing railtracks

View outside the Shimoyoshida Station 

Colorful and Beautiful pathway -- this marks the start of that 400 step journey! Do not be scared, old Japanese people are passing at us like roadrunners. Haha.. What a shame for someone younger but you can pause, take pictures and enjoy the view as you go up.

When I said steep, I meant really really steep. 

When you reach the Torii Gate near the Arakura Sengen Shrine. Look back and enjoy. The best spot for framing Mt. Fuji. This area could get crowded, we don't even have a selfie on this spot. I just took a pic and include the other tourists who are not giving us our chance.

The best view is the bench at the far right from this spot but since the couple who are sitting there have no plans in getting up, we just settled for this bench. With Mt. Fuji at the background, it is still a nice spot.

Took this pic while going up the stairs. Just don't forget to look back in case a new vantage point appears.

This is probably the most photographed view of Mt. Fuji with pagoda at the right. There's a queue when you take your pictures here. Make sure you arrive in Chureito Pagoda before 9AM. The tour buses from Tokyo usually arrives at 10AM or 11AM so if you don't want too much crowd, better get up early.

Going down is much easier, here you can relax a bit.

                                                        Buy an ice cream near the Shrine.

There's a store at the right of this pic. 

You can buy good luck, love, wealth, health charms there depending on your needs or desperation (haha).  I actually got the pink one for love. 

Arakura Sengen Shrine

Now, head back to Shimoyoshida station and ride a train back to Kawaguchi Station. Outside the Kawaguchi Station are lines for the Red, Blue and Green Lines. We took the Red Bus Line this time.

Total time spent: 30mins

Entrance Fee: FREE

Bus stop 20 :  Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center/Oishi Park  (Redline) 

With all our itinerary everywhere, here's the general rule we follow : start from the farthest. Reason is when you have problems going back or when it's crunch time (having a train/bus to catch), the risk of getting late or missing on it is lower. You'll be able to budget your time wisely and adjust the minutes spent in a spot. 

Oishi Park is around 27mins from Kawaguchi station, please consider traffic when you allot times.

This was the most disappointing view we got for Mt Fuji. There's that cloud forming on top of her tip, it could have been a beautiful sight if the flowers here are in bloom but they are not. Add to the ongoing renovation, there's not much to see here at that time. I saw pictures of Mt Fuji from Oishi Park and they were all good, not my lucky visit I guess.

Total time spent: 30mins

Entrance Fee: FREE

Bus stop 17 :  Itchiku Kubota Art Museum/ Momiji Tunnel  (Redline) 

We did not enter the museum but went to the Momiji Tunnel. 

The Momiji tunnel refers to the road lined with several beautiful Maple trees of yellow and red leaves. It's not even a tunnel at all. Read somewhere that the "tunnel" came from the Japanese photographer's love of framing subjects of their shots using natural forms. They are called Tunnel shots  because each subject appears to be seen through the mouth of a tunnel. And this right here, provides one of the best angles from which to center Mount Fuji, across Lake Kawaguchi, in a frame of maple leaves. But, I was not able to spot one here due to the crowd.

Please note that Momiji tunnel is different from the Momiji Corridor.

That tunnel of red and yellow leaves.

Golden yellow and red leaves in blue sky background.

Yellow and greens.

Let's add subject to the frame.

Just across the Momiji Tunnel is the Lake Kawaguchi.

 

This view here is what you see when you stand at the bus stop going back to Kawaguchi Station.

There are lot of bus stops we failed to drop by due to time constraints. It's nice that you plan your day but the most important thing is to enjoy it. Prioritize what is most important as it's hard to play Amazing race in your vacation.

So off we go to Kawaguchi station to catch our bus.

Total time spent: 45mins

Entrance Fee: FREE