Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes District

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During our trip to mainland Japan last week we spent some time checking out some of the sites in Hakone National Park and the Fuji Five Lakes District. One of our first stop was a fun Japanese spa up in the mountains called Yunessun (http://www.yunessun.com/english/yunessun.html). The spa featured many natural hot springs and themed pools...

Red Wine Pool

Green Tea Pool

Lunch

Eveyone that enters the spa is issued one of the stylish robes that Holly and McCall are modeling.

Second stop was Fuji-Q Highlands amusement park (http://www.fuji-q.com/fuji-q-en/main/e-main.htm...

McCall's Favorite Ride - The Spinning Tea Cups

Fujiyama Roller Coaster

As we waited in line for two hours to ride this beast, it stated that it was the tallest roller coaster in the world at 259 feet. However, I have since learned that it only held the world record until May 2000. Regardless, Denver had a blast on the ride, on Jason had a blast watching Denver's face during the ride.

Too Much Amusement Park

Next was a day of exploring the Hakone area around scenic Lake Ashi...

Outdoor Gardens at Heiwa Park

Inside a Shrine at Heiwa Park



This is What Happens When You Can't Read the "Bus Parking Only" Signs



View from Mount Komagatake
We took a tram to the top of this mountain and hiked around a bit. The view was fantastic and there was a shrine at the summit of the mountain. The lake in the background is Lake Ashi.



McCall's Souvenir
Best two dollars we ever spent.

Hakone Gongen Shrine

One of the last stops on our vacation was a massive park and play area called Showa Kinen Park (http://www.showakinenpark.go.jp/english/index.htm)...

Just a Small Portion of the Beautiful Landscaping

Family Transportation - Tokyo Style

Tile Dragons

World's Largest Bouncy Dome

Denver Climbs Mount Fuji

After Holly climbed Mt Fuji last summer, Denver really wanted to be a mommy's boy and also climb Mt Fuji (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji). We told him that if he trained hard then he could climb Mt Fuji when he turned eight. Denver took us seriously and practiced hiking, running, biking and swimming throughout the year. Last week, the long-awaited chance to climb Mt Fuji finally came...

Mount Fuji as seen from Camp Fuji

We stayed at Marine Corps Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji. The camp is located at the base of Mount Fuji and the kids really enjoyed watching all of the helicopters fly around. The picture above was taken from our room the morning before our climb.

Start Hiking (Sunday 9:00 p.m.)

There are five main routes up Mt Fuji and we went up the Fujinomiyaguchi trail. The trailhead starts at 2,400 meters (7,875 ft). We decided on the night hike option in order to see the sunrise and enjoy the cool nighttime air.

Lucky Coin Pole (Sunday 11:45 p.m.)

Off the side of the trail we found this "Lucky Coin Pole" where every crack in the wood has been filled in by hikers inserting coins. We have no idea why the coins were shoved into the pole so we just assumed it was for good luck.

9th Station (Monday 12:05 a.m.)

Climbing Mt Fuji is not your ordinary mountaineering experience to say the LEAST. Located along the trail at intervals of about every 500-750 feet in elevation gain are mountain huts or "stations". The size and amenities vary at each station, but they usually include pay toilets, sitting benches, vending machines, sleeping bunks, etc. No matter which route you take up the mountain, the starting trailhead is named the fifth station and the summit is named the tenth station, but that doesn't mean that each trail has five stations between the trailhead and summit. There are half-stations, old and new numbered stations, etc. Our trail had a total of eight stations, but they were all closed during our nigth ascent. The stations provide the heavily-panting Japanese climbers a chance to take a few puffs of oxygen from their bottles and then smoke a few cigarettes.

Tenth Station Torii Gate (Monday 1:30 a.m.)

Denver is not much of a complainer, but I think he was pretty tired by the time we arrived at the top. I mention this because when we arrived at the top I told him to stand next to the torii gate and I went down a few a steps to take a picture. By the time I took the picture a few seconds later, he had fallen asleep while leaning on the gate.

Nap Time (Monday 1:45 a.m.)

Denver taking a well deserved rest at the top.

Japanese Post Office at the Top of Mt. Fuji
Like I mentioned previously, climbing Mt. Fuji is not your ordinary mountaineering experience.

3,776 Meters or 12,388 Feet (Monday 2:00 a.m.)

Mt Fuji has an extensive caldera rim around the top of the mountain. I was a little wired when we reached the top so I hiked another 15 minutes to the highest point on the caldera rim where this marker and a massive abandoned weather radar station are located.

The View from Mt Fuji (Monday 2:05 a.m.)
Isn't is breathtaking?

Sunrise from Mt Fuji (Monday 5:00 a.m.)

Back Down at the Trailhead (Monday 6:00 a.m.)

Birthday Typhoon and Ice Skating

This week Denver celebrated his eighth birthday and for his birthday he received a Mt. Fuji cake, presents, dinner and a typhoon....

Typhoon Morakat

OK, so the typhoon wasn't a direct hit and ended up veering South of us, but it was still our closest encounter yet. The storm hit on Denver's birthday and even though the eye of the storm was a couple hundred miles to the South, it was amazing to experience the effects of this typhoon.

Mt Fuji Birthday Cake

In anticipation of his upcoming Mt. Fuji climb, Holly made Denver an edible replica of the volcano. The cake came complete with snow, lava, boulders, vegetation and a trail to the top of the mountain -- and it tasted even better than it looked.

Birthday Dinner at Genghis Khan

We let Denver choose what restaurant for his birthday dinner. In typical Denver fashion, he chose a local hole in the wall for some Mongolian BBQ.

Beware of Flying Marshmallows

Denver really enjoyed shooting his new marshmallow gun and McCall really enjoyed eating his ammunition.

Best Birthday Present Ever
Denver really enjoyed the K'Nex Blade Thrill Ride set that Grandpa Allan gave him for his birthday. The set came with 1,555 pieces and a 40 page assembly manual and Denver loved putting this together for four days all by himself. Holly and Jason also enjoyed the four days of peace as Denver was self-confined to his room for every minute of free time.

We decided to beat the heat on Saturday by going ice skating...

In the Locker Room

Training with Holly

Eye See You

First Solo Skate

Denver Giving McCall Some Skating Lessons

Denver Giving McCall Some Falling Lessons

For an Audio-Visual Delight Click Above

This week McCall decided it was time to branch out from coloring between the lines and she drew her first self portrait. In case you are wondering, McCall did this without any help from her parents...

Parties and Denver's Culture Skills

This week McCall had the opportunity to join 9 of her fellow princesses for a birthday party. The girls had lots of fun and will make some princes very happy someday...





Jason and Holly spent an evening this weekend with some friends for a tapioca wrap and game night party...

Denver finished up a two-week "Culture Class" on Friday. Culture class consisted of Japanese culture education for two hours each day. The teachers were Okinawan natives and Denver really enjoyed learning more about the culture here. Denver made many fun projects and perfected some of his Japanese skills such as his...

Origami Parrot Making Skills,

Origami Flower Bouquet Making Skills,

Japanese-Style Kite Making Skills,

and Kite Flying Skills (click above)