Japan - Part 1

These photos are taken at the 5th station of Mt Fuji. This was day two of the Japan trip. We arrived at Narita airport at 5pm the previous evening. I was having minor (hidden) anxiety attacks about how to get from the airport to the Ikebukuro bus stop and then to our ryokan. I didn't realise Siena had amazing navigational skills, and armed with the map, she guided us through busy intersections and side streets accurately and confidently. I hadn't ever slept on a futon before and actually found it really comfortable, or that could have just been pure exhaustion from the flight and bus ride. We were up bright and early the next morning to visit Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Hakone.

I imagined the whole of japan to be bustling, hectic and chaotic, but once you are out of the cities, the countryside is so lush, green, quiet, picturesque. I was in awe of the beauty of Mt Fuji (Japan is so proud of Mt Fuji, school kids are taught a song about it in school - I know this because our tour guide Yoko sang it to us!), the tranquility of Lake Ashi and the quirky surrounds of Hakone.