faithmonsoon.com

Time for another update I think….

We are now down in Kawaguchi-ko which is in the foothills of Mt. Fuji.  Unfortunately, when we arrrived the weather was dull and overcast so the mountain was hidden from sight!  We are going to rise early tomorrow and go on a mountain hunt! 

We are staying in a traditional Japanese guesthouse (Ryokan) which is really cool.  They have the “shoes off at the door” policy, as we have found in most places in Japan, and you are provided with a pair of slippers to wear around the ryokan.  The rooms here are really nice and spacious, we are in a dorm but you have a low bunk to yourself with room underneath for all of your stuff - which is handy as our bags arrived from BA today!

We went for dinner tonight at a Japanese BBQ place recommended in the guidebook and also by the hostel.  I think it is one of my best experiences in Japan yet!  You sit around hot coals on little cushions and get to cook all of your food yourself.  We ordered a selection of meat, fish and veg to have and as the waiter was explaining to us how to cook the food I noticed Iain’s rainbow trout raise his head - the fish were still alive!!!!  So crazy!  At this point the waiter advised us to wait until “the fish stop moving” before cooking them.  Those fish had some fight left in them, mine - George - made a few attempts to leap of the plate much to my shock at a few intervals before he finally gave up the ghost!  What a tasty meal - we had so much different kinds of food - I am still full.

We have now also had the pleasure of trying out a Japanese Onsen/Spring bath.  These are large shared hot spring baths where you can wash and then soak in the lovely hot water.  You are able to see Mount Fuji from the baths - unfortunately no chance of that today but maybe I can enjoy the view from the bath tomorrow morning.

No photos as yet I’m afraid.  Although our bags have arrived and I have my camera cable I can’t get them loaded as this PC keeps looking for an admin password.  We are moving to Kyoto tomorrow so hopefully I can get some uploaded there.  Iain has managed to get his working so checkout his flickr page for some pics appearing soon!