Today is a beautiful day!  Finally, day # 2 with sunshine and no rain.  And, as a reward for all the rain we have put up with – we get views of Mt. Fuji that only come once only a few times a year. Thank you weather gods!

We’re up super early for some reason – so we get to watch the amazing sail in from the gym.  Then we hit the Pinnacle grill for breakfast, and Wayan gives Ed a “clown” eggs benedict!  He’s so cute – all the staff on this ship are just fabulous.  After breakfast, we just wander around the ship – our balcony, the Crow’s nest for cappuccino an views, then out onto the open deck for more views of Mt. Fuji – and great (hahahahaha) pictures of us and the mountain – with our hair flying all around us in the wind!  What the heck!

We  have a Cruise Critic tour today, meeting late, because our original docking time was an hour later than we actually get in.  This gives us time to grab a quick sandwich at the buffet and then meet the group at the Ocean Bar.  The first 2 ladies who arrive are British, sick (sniffling and sneezing) and not wearing masks.  Oh for God’s f’ing sakes! We quickly determine that if no one else on this tour is wearing a mask, we are just going to skip out on it, and do our own thing. We’ve got too much riding on the rest of this long trip to get sick – COVID or not – because 2 idiots won’t wear their masks.  Fortunately, the other 4 who are on the tour are mask wearers like us, so the 2 scofflaws are shamed into wearing theirs.  Phew. Saved.  Hopefully!

We all head out to the pier, where we meet Miyuki, our tour guide, who is adorable and full of all sorts of information and knowledge.  We head off on our journey to Lake Tanuki, which Miyuki calls a pond!  To get a great view of Mt. Fuji.  Before we get there, though, we stop at a rest area with a viewing platform, where we snap great photos of the mountain. It is amazing how clear it is.

Back in the van, we head to the “pond” or lake, or whatever!  Miyuki gives us the Mt. Fuji overview. It last erupted in 1707, which changed the shape from the original cone shape, to a cone with another vent on the right side, which is where all the lava and magma erupted. She goes on to explain that you can climb Mt. Fuji, but only in July and August which is climbing season.  There are different stations atop the mountain where you can start. Her mother climbed the mountain when she turned 60, starting at station 5.  It took her 5 hours to the top.

There is also an area called Suicide Forest – this is a place where the trees are really dense, before the tree line at station 8 where there are no more trees for coverage.  Here there are magnetic forces in the soil, from the volcanic eruptions.   Because of the magnetic forces, compasses don’t work here.  Those who are serious about suicide, come here to go into the forest.  They can’t find their way out and end up dying there.  Then the police end up going out to the forest a few times a year to search for bodies.

Heading up to the lake or pond, or what have you, we are on the highway, and we pass a red striped big advertisement sign on the side of building.  Turns out that is a “love hotel.”  Yes, that is exactly what it sounds like.  A hotel by the hour.  No need to stay the night, just rent by the hour for whatever your needs may be!  These Japanese!  So polite.  So respectful.  So…..love hotels!!!! 

Miyuki also gives us a lesson on Japan religion – a mix of Shinto-ism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The latter more about principles like respecting your elders, etc., than religion. But still. Very confusing – and Miyuki said she was confused for years until a professor explained his thoughts on the religion in  Japan and made her  understand more about her faith. 

She also quizzes us on different aspects of Mt. Fuji (what’s on the top of the mountain?   A Post Office, a convenience store, a Meteorological station? – Post office is the correct answer!) .  As well as giving us prices on different things like gas, eggs, MacDonalds!  And how they handle wedding presents – way more expensive than our system – if you are family you pay A LOT to go to the wedding.  Crazy! 

All fascinating information – to keep us occupied during our drive.  But then we get to the lake/pond – and OMG!  Mt. Fuji is amazing!  So beautiful in sunshine and clear skies!  We take tons of pictures, which you can see here –

and Miyuki takes tons as well – couples and Group Pictures!  Just like Double!  There are a ton of group pictures!  Which she uploads to a link we can all access!  Great bonus!

Miyuki walks us through the lake/pond park, where loads of people are camping out in the gorgeous clear, cool weather.  The views of the mountain are amazing, and we love walking through the beautiful day, snapping as many pictures of Mt. Fuji as we can.  It is an incredible sight.

Our next stop is the Shiraito Falls, which translates to the “white thread” falls – because the water looks like white threads against the black lava cliffs.  But first we pass the Otodome no Taki waterfalls, which are the falls mentioned in one of the 3 most famous revenge legends in Japan.  Two Shoguns were planning revenge against another shogun for killing their father.  They were trying to talk and make plans near this waterfall, but it was too noisy and they asked the gods to make the waterfall quieter.  Suddenly the waterfall was silent and the shoguns could plan, thus the name.  It is a very powerful waterfall, as we can see from here – so it makes sense the gods would have to silence it for the shoguns to hear!

Next we walk down to the main event – the Shiraito Falls, which are incredible.  A series of white threads –  indeed – running down along the black lava walls.  It is just beautiful and a lovely walk in the brilliant – yet cold – sunshine.

Back up top, we wait for the rest of the group – while snapping shots of Mt. Fuji.  We just can’t get enough!  And Miyuki keeps telling us this is such an amazing day – we can’t not take advantage of it!

Back in the van, we head to our last stop, the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine which is the shrine to the Goddess of Mt. Fuji. The name of the goddess is far too long to even begin to type out here (and really, I totally didn’t understand what Miyuki said her name was, it was that long!) but she is the goddess of harmony of the household, safe births and safe travel by sea.  So, ok, the first and the last are appealing!  Also part of her name is Sakura – which is what they call the Cherry blossom trees here – because the goddess was beautiful and they named the cherry blossom trees after her. 

Miyuki explains that Shintoism, the main religion here, has 8 million gods.  She also explains that the shrine for this particular goddess was built to soothe her and keep her from becoming angry.  The people felt that she became angry with them and erupted Mt. Fuji.  Thus the shrine in her honor to keep her happy.  The original shrine was closer to the mountain.  But this shrine was built, after the eruption, and placed at the spot where the lava ended its flow. 

It is a lovely shrine – and beautiful grounds – and Miyuki finds different places for us to take group pictures, along with a couple of women in traditional dress to take photos with us as well!  We wander around the grounds, examining a rock form the Antarctica that a Japanese research brought back, as well as a rock from the 1707 volcanic eruption in the courtyard of the shrine.

Then we walk to a little pond at the side of the shrine, taking pictures by the pond and the bridge – and more group photos! – then back to the van to the port.

Great tour – and fabulous information!  And companionship – except for the British non-mask wearing women.  Once back, we figure we’d wander for a bit, we have 2 ½ hours until all aboard, so we head to the sushi museum, which when get there, seems, well, not interesting.  So we just wander through the mall on the waterfront, then through a gourmet market, and out onto the harbor again, back to the ship. 

Once aboard, we finalize our packing, get our tips ready, have a drink at the Lido bar, then dinner in the Lido buffet.  I manage to panic everyone when I can’t find my phone.  I swear!  I always put it in my purse, but it’s not there, and I go from table to table (we moved tables to sit closer to the pierside for the alleged fireworks) looking for it. Everyone ngets involved, from Agustin – the bartender – to Made, the waiter (even though I never talked to him about it) to Clieford – who overheard me asking!  It’s good to be known…..it’s not good to be known!  I finally found the damn thing in the pocket of my jacket – in the cabin.  Sheesh. But I could have sworn I had it with me. Sigh.  I’m so embarrassed.  But everyone is very happy I have it back in my possession.  Of course!

We hang out on the deck, watching all the people on shore waving goodbye with their cell phones, and enjoying the fireworks, which we couldn’t manage pictures of because they were so fast – but still lovely!

Then it is back to the cabin – with a pit stop in the lounge for hugs and tears with Kristine, the amazing lounge concierge, then the Ocean bar for room supplies and movies for the rest of evening.  Show tonight is the dancers and the piano folks.  Eh.. Not the best, we’ll stay here.  And tomorrow – off to Gate1.  Our next adventure!