Mt. Fuji (July 28)

I was back in North Carolina.  Jerry and Bill spent three days in Tokyo.  One day, they took a day tour to Mt. Fuji.  Jerry wanted to climb it, but we couldn't get that tour arranged.  This tour takes you half way up Fuji, to the Welcome Center, a nearby lake, and cable car ride back down to the high speed bullet train (Shinkasen).
At the Welcome Center.

Area Map.

We are all used to the Mt Fuji with the snow capped mountain top so I was not ready for these pictures of Fuji.

The lake is made from a dormant volcano.  

The swan boats caught Bill and Jerry's attention.

Bill and Jerry caught a ferry boat and toured around the crater lake.  It was starting to rain/thunder so they couldn't catch the cable car.  They had to bus down to catch the bullet train.
Meanwhile, the lake was covered with clouds.

and gave off a beautiful glow.  Bill said it was like being in Lord of the Rings.

A torii gate...

Since they couldn't catch the cable car, the tour took them to a nearby museum.

Flowers for Bill's mom.

The escalator to the bullet train.

Notice that the train station is immaculate.  Japan is very clean!

Bill and Jerry tried to take a picture of the bullet train while it was moving (at 150 miles per hour) but had to settle with one stopped at the station.

On the bullet train to Tokyo.  It took just over an hour to get back.

Exhausted but a great day!