Travel Back in Time │ TAKAYAMA JAPAN │Old Town │Travel Guide │Things to do and places to Visit

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji! Definitely on the top of every tourist itinerary when visiting Japan or Tokyo. But not for me, Japan was not really on my bucket list, then. But having the opportunity to come here last year because of work was really a mind changing experience and I felt in love with this country. (I guess everyone who have come here can relate to this feeling).

L: Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko Station R: Mount Fuji from 5th Station

Seeing Mount Fuji is indeed on my top must see on this trip. Our plan was to see Mount Fuji at Arakurayama Sengen Park, but as I mentioned in my previous post, the mountain is not that visible at the time of our visit. Thick clouds were covering the mountain and there was no chance of us seeing it. I’m glad I had someone with me who’s really patience to all my request. Although I wasn’t making it too obvious for him about my disappointment because it’s “nakakahiya”, plus we already booked our ticket back to Tokyo from Fujiyoshida.

But he was really nice, and figured a way out for us to see Mount Fuji without worrying our ticket. Thanked God he was able to cancelled our tickets and fifteen minutes later, I was outside Kawaguchiko Station looking up Mount Fuji. Although our planned was to stay in Kawaguchiko and watch Mount Fuji from there, but the view was kinda not that pleasing. And it doesn’t make sense travelling all the way to Tokyo and not being able to see its beauty. So we decided to go up to the 5th station where in the best spot to enjoy the sight of Mount Fuji. It took us an hour travel going up to the mountain and voila the trip was so worth it! I know these photos will never do the real deal of justice of how beautiful Mount Fuji is, but we can only try! And hope you like it. 

HOW TO GET HERE:

There are plenty of book tours available online so I suggest you should plan your trip before coming here. But if you have a local friend like mine, or wanted to be adventurous and wanted to do DIY (Do it yourself) then you’re good to go. Just make sure you have internet connection with you all the times. Because even if I had a local friend with me, we still had hard time figuring out our DIY. The only advantage we had, is that he can speak the language so there was no worries of getting lost.

Book tours are way expensive! But if you want comfort and relaxation then it’s convenient, without anything to worry but just to see the Mount Fuji. Wherein DIY like ours was a bit tiring but FUN! Like really FUN! You get to be at places you never imagined you will be, you get to meet people and new friends along the way if you get lost somehow, and the lesson and experience you had encounter with DIY’s are precious and of course lastly you get to save money from it. 

I hope this post helps you on planning your future Mount Fuji trip.

Arigatou gozaimasu! Matane!😊

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine

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The Meiji Shrine

I went to visit another Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine, The Meiji Jingu in Shibuya. Aside from being known as a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, this place is also known as one of the best instagrammable place in Tokyo and one of the busiest sites in Tokyo for tourists, so I suggest you come here early to avoid the massive crowd of people coming to the shrine.

Another special sight inside the spacious grounds of Meiji Jingu that caught my eyes while walking my way in, are the rows upon rows of decorative sake barrels (Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made of fermented rice, koji often translated as rice malt or yeast made from rice and water.) lining the walkway on the way to the temple. As what I overhead from one of the tour guide, this empty sake barrels were donated by sake brewers from all over japan and offered to the shrine deities at Meiji Jingu every year.

Another important note that I would like to share while visiting this site is that NO TRIPOD is ALLOWED INSIDE the Shrine. I don’t why! I was getting ready setting up my tripod when suddenly some guys wearing white and violet skirt looking pants approach me and gently told me, that using tripod is not allowed inside the vicinity. Selfie stick is okay. So, the whole time I was inside the shrine I was asking for favors to some tourist and locals to take my photos.

ADMISSION IS FREE

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine
• Mount Fuji

Before you go: please share this blog on Facebook, RT on Twitter. Follow me on Facebook, at The Travelling Hopia. Subscribe to receive email updates. Thank you for your support!

Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward

When we think of Kyoto, the first thing that pops in-mind is the Torii gates of the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. Torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shrinto Shrine. And since Kyoto is miles away from Tokyo, the chance of seeing a Torii gates like the one in Kyoto is impossible, especially if you’re staying in Tokyo alone. 

But worry no more, I found out that we don’t need to travel all the way to Kyoto just to see the famous Torii gates because right at the heart of Tokyo, there is a shrine called Nezu Shrine that features the vibrant red path of Torii gates like the one in Kyoto. 

Although the Torii gates at Nezu is smaller in size than in Kyoto but who cares, if your agenda is to simply snap some insta photo looking like you’re in Kyoto. And so far this Shrine is not known to many tourist, yet, so its less crowded. 

Nezu (Jinja) Shrine is located in Tokyo's Bunkyo ward near Ueno Park. Regarding as one of Japan's oldest shrines, and certainly one of the most photogenic places of worship in Tokyo. 

Nezu Shrine is set in lush greenery, with ponds of carp, pathways that are tunnels of small shrine arches, and elegant, beautifully colored, wooden structures that reflect Japanese culture in all its age and beauty.

Nezu Shrine is the home of the Bunkyo Azalea Festival, which happens every April and is named after Tokyo's Bunkyo ward where Nezu Shrine is located. 

Admission is fee at Nezu Shrine, so you might what to keep this lovely place in your itinerary Minasan, on you future visit to Tokyo. This culturally-significant site is located minutes by foot from Nezu Station on the Chiyoda Line and Todaimae Station on the Namboku Line.

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine
• Mount Fuji

Before you go: please share this blog on Facebook, RT on Twitter. Follow me on Facebook, at The Travelling Hopia. Subscribe to receive email updates. Thank you for your support!

Arakurayama Sengen Park

One of the reasons behind this recent trip of mine in Tokyo is to see the autumn foliage. Unfortunately, the changing of colors in Central Tokyo is not that visible on the first week of November. The idea of not seeing the famous Aki Momiji upset me a bit. I should have come on the later weeks of November, but due to some other reasons I booked my ticket on the first week hoping to see it. I rest my case and did not expect to see the beauty of autumn colors.

My trip to Arakurayama Sengen Park is to see the famous Mt. Fuji from a distance, and to my surprise the City of Fujiyoshida is on full bloom! Autumn foliage is everywhere! I was so thrilled to see them up close.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture. One of the best spots in Japan for spotting the majestic Mount Fuji. The park is directly facing the Mount Fuji and it offers beautiful panoramic views of the mountain and the downtown area of Fujiyoshida. The best spot to view Mount Fuji at Arakurayama Sengen Park is at the top of stairway where you can find the Chureito Pagoda. It’s a bit tiring going up and climbing 400 steps but once you are at the top, its super worth it!

The Chureito Pagoda and the view of Mount Fuji is one of the famous stunningly photo you can find on google. Unfortunately, the iconic Mount Fuji was not visible at Arakurayama Park that day, the mountain was covered with clouds and there was no chance for me to see it. But on the other side I was really happy seeing the autumn colors at Fujiyoshida. Finally tick off seeing autumn off on my bucket list.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is also home to many cherry trees which bloom every spring making it also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan particularly mid-April, with the pagoda and the Mount Fuji on the backdrop you will surely snap that instagrammable photo you are aiming for.

HOW TO GET HERE FROM TOKYO

The cheapest way to get here is by taking the bus. We went to Shinjuku and boarded the 8am bus bound for Arakurayama Senge Park. It took us 2 hours and 30 minutes bus ride. Make sure to book your ticket ahead of time because most of the time its fully booked.

Other related blog post: 

• The Kanda Used Book Festival in Jimbocho
• Keisei Skyliner
• Instagrammable spot in Shibuya Tokyo 
• Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at Night 
• Kawagoe The Little Edo Town in the Modern day Japan
• The Travelling Hopia
• Arakurayama Sengen Park 
• Nezu Shrine in Tokyo Bunkyo Ward
• The Meiji Shrine
• Mount Fuji

Before you go: please share this blog on Facebook, RT on Twitter. Follow me on Facebook, at The Travelling Hopia. Subscribe to receive email updates. Thank you for your support!