OH, no, no more Japan

Well, except for about 5 hours in the Tokyo airport.  But yesterday was a very full day, lots of time on a bus as we went to see Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Lake Ashi and the top of some mountain (Mt. Komagatake) by the lake on what they call ropeway — it’s like the tram up Sandia.  (Jonelle saw the ropeway sign and asked, “what do they brew there?” mistaking “ropeway” for “brewery”. It was a long day.) (Hey — I was a long way away from it when I said that!) I didn’t stay, came down soon after getting up because it was VERY COLD up there.  Laird wanted to walk up to the summit, with Shinto shrine.  No way I could do that with my back, etc. hurting.  I am really, really cranked that the pain down my leg, which had gone away finally, has come back.

Fujisan is worth all its press and is rightfully considered sacred.  What a beauty!  It looked EXACTLY like all the (good) paintings show.  It last erupted about 300 years ago, but is still considered to be active.  The countryside is gorgeous, with lots of familiar-sounding tree names and some evergreens that don’t look like ours, but must be some kinds of firs and pines (our guide, whose given name is “FUJI”, said that some of the evergreens are larch.).  Lots of mountain bamboo and fields of Japanese pampas grass.  In the fall, people come to walk in them.  We saw a group in the middle distance and it looked like they were lost in the pampas midst, but they were actually on a trail.  Our guide gave us an astounding amount of world statistics in which Japan featured, lessons in Japanese counting and the three types of Japanese writing, the differences between Shinto and Buddhism and a panoply of other information.  Alas, he told us about all the places and museums we must go to in Tokyo and other places.  All that we have not seen and will not see on this trip.  Definitely, there must be another trip to Japan in our future.

Soon we have to catch our ride to the airport.  I’ll report on it if it’s wonderful.  Probably will if it’s terrible, too.  But I can’t believe that it would be terrible — the Japanese wouldn’t do something terrible.  Then it will be on to Honolulu for 3 days — I”m really looking forward to flying on Korean air; it’s supposed to be super great.  Of course, that might be for first and business classes, not steerage.  WE’LL SEE!

Wingingly yours, jm & lg        Oh.  p.s.  What I will miss most about Japan?  Toto toilet!  I am getting one, I don’t care how expensive they are.  And I’m considering driving up to 10,000 Waves when I have to go to the bathroom until I get one!