Okinawa trip

If you travel Japan, and if you hope to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, how about visiting Okinawa prefecture? Okinawa is known as Japanese resort area.



Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan, it takes about 2.5 hours to go from Tokyo. 

Nagoya ; SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

If you travel Japan, and if you visit Nagoya city, how about SCMAGLEV  and Railway Park ?

This museum has started since March 2011. You can see many real Japanese Shinkansen, old trains, and you can learn some technologies about Shinkansen and SCMAGLEV (superconducting magnetic levitation).

You can learn history of railway in Japan, eat ekiben (lunch box), and also enjoy driving simulation of Shinkansen or conventional train. Shinkansen driving simulator is very realistic, it must be wonderful experience. If you want to play the simulator, you have to win a drawing.

If you are interested in Japanese technology, especially for trains, you can have a productive day at there.


Official website is here ;
http://museum.jr-central.co.jp/en/

Mt. Fuji ; how to get there

There are four courses for a climb at Mt. Fuji, and climbers normally start climbing from the 5th station of each courses. You can get to the 5th stations by bus. In this page, I explain each stations.
  1. Kawaguchiko-guchi (Kawaguchi lake guchi)
  2. Fujinomiya-guchi
  3. Subashiri-guchi
  4. Gotenba-guchi

1. Kawaguchiko-guchi (Kawaguchi lake guchi) ; altitude 2,300m

Kawagushiko-guchi is the most urbanized station, there are many rest houses, a post office, a foreign money exchange. This starting point is convenient to come from Tokyo.
■Good points
   ・You can enjoy horse riding from the 5th station to the 7th station. (14,000 JPY)
   ・There are 15 lodges on the course, so it is easy to take a break. Further more, you can see sun rise from all of lodges (you need not to get to the summit to see sun rise).
   ・You can easily get there from Tokyo.
■Bad points
   ・There are too many people especially above the 8th station, so you may get frustrated.
   ・Walking distance is longer than other courses.
■Time required (without an intermission)
   Climb : 5.5 hours (7.5 km)
   Down : 3 hours (7.6 km)
■Access
   ・Direct bus from the Shinjuku west gate (Tokyo).
   ・Bus from the Kawaguchiko station.

2.Fujinomiya-guchi ; altitude 2,400m

Fujinomiya-guchi is the highest 5th station. You can see Suruga-sea back of you during your climbing. This is as popular course as Kawaguchiko-guchi.
■Good points
   ・The shortest course.
   ・There are some lodges on the course, so you can have a break easily..
   ・There is a restaurant at the 5th station.
■Bad points
   ・There are many people on the course (but less than Kawaguchiko-guchi).
   ・Climbing course and Declining course are same (so it is little bit boring).
   ・You need to get near the summit to see sun rise.
■Time required (without an intermission)
   Climb : 5 hours (5.0 km)
   Down : 2.5 hours (5.0 km)
■Access
   ・Bus from the Fuji or Mishima station (Shinkansen).

3.Subashiri-guchi ; altitude 2000m

Subashiri-guchi is calm course. This course is not so popular, there are not so many people, so if you wanna try more pure climbing, this course would be good.
■Good points
   ・Calmness
   ・Rich in nature (until 6th station).
   ・You can enjoy "suna-bashiri (run on the sand)" when you down.
■Bad points
   ・There are only a few people, so it is not easy to ask for help.
   ・The 5th station is little bit lower.
   ・There are only 7 lodges on the course.
■Time required (without an intermission)
   Climb : 5.5 hours (7.8 km)
   Down : 3 hours (6.2 km)
■Access
   ・Bus from the Gotenba station.

4.Gotenba-guchi ; altitude 1,440m

Gotenba-guchi is the longest course. If you are confident about your physical strength, try this course !
■Good points
   ・Calmness
   ・Rich in nature (until 6th station).
   ・You can enjoy "oosuna-bashiri (long run on the sand)" when you down.
■Bad points
   ・There are only a few people, so you cannot ask for help.
   ・The 5th station is too lower than others.
   ・There are only a few lodges on the course.
■Time required (without an intermission)
   climb : 7.5 hours (11.0 km)
   down : 3 hours (8.5 km)
■Access
   ・Bus from the Gotenba station.

That's all. See you then !

Mt. Fuji ; how about climbing?

If you travel Japan, and if you are confident about your stamina, I recommend you to climb Mt. Fuji.

Mt.Fuji is the highest and the most famous mountain in Japan. Tokaido Line of Shinkansen passes near this cone-shaped mountain, so you will have some opportunities to see it during your trip. Just looking Mt. Fuji may give you some amount of sensation, but I ensure that climbing the mountain is worth.

Most people start climbing from the 5th station (altitude about 2,300m) of the mountain, you can go there by bus. The way of Fuji is like that (see below).


Weather permitting, you can see really beautiful view, or enjoy walking on the cloud sea. It's so fantastic.


The summit of Fuji, there are a shrine and a post office, how about sending post cards from the top of Mt.Fuji ?　You can also enjoy walking along the crater of the volcano.


Climbing takes about 5 hours normally, and downhill takes about 3 hours. So, 1 day may be enough to enjoy Mt. Fuji, but some people stay at a lodge on the mountain and enjoy seeing sun rise from the summit of Fuji.


Many people, including foreign tourists, climb Mt. Fuji every summer, so you need not to be afraid of. Of course, you have to prepare to climb, but climbing Mt. Fuji is not so difficult, not so danger.