7-18-19 - Does Mount Fuji really exist?
/Day 32. NCC has arranged for a bus trip to Mount Fuji. We go for a boat ride on Lake Ashinoko at the base of Mount Fuji. The lake was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano’s last eruption 3,000 years ago. The brochure markets that you can “take in the serene natural landscape and the unapparelled views of Mount Fuji.” Turns out we got unparrelled views of clouds and fog instead of Mount Fuji. You couldn’t see anything more than 25 feet off the lake line so we could have been in a lake 100 miles from Mount Fuji and it would have looked the same. The skeptical side of me is sensing another American tourist scam in the works. The coolest thing was seeing the “Ninja Bus” barreling down a boat ramp and plunge into the water with the bus converting into a boat.
Our itinerary says we will get to experience authentic Hakone cuisine for lunch. Unfortunately, I know what this means by now. Fish, fish and more fish. The Hakone restaurant does not disappoint on that front. Part of the challenge is that fish is added to non-fish food. Fish soup, rice with fish eggs, salad with fish dressing, etc. The wait staff looks insulted when I ask if there is a McDonalds within walking distance. I try to explain that I don’t eat fish but I think I’m making it worse. Oh well, dinner is on our own tonight so I know I’ll be nice and hungry.
In the afternoon, we go to the Kawaguchiko Music Forest. The itinerary describes it as a one-of-a-kind musical theme park with a stunning view of Mount Fuji. Well, we have a stunning view of the rain. I’m starting to question whether Mount Fuji actually exists or if it is the Santa Claus of the Japanese tourism industry.
John and NCC is performing at the Organ Hall in the Kawaguchiko Music Forest which is An underground hall that houses the world’s largest dance organ and automated doll orchestra. Made in 1920 in Belgium, this dance organ has 800 pipes and an assortment of percussion instruments. The classic design and lighting of the hall combined with the grand scale of the organ orchestra produces an elegant, magical and mysterious mood during performances (their wording not mine J). There are several the wood carved signs saying France. So I’m just trying to figure why a dance organ made in Belgium has signs marketing it as French and how it ended up in Japan.
After another great performance, someone comes out and explains that we will hear a song by the automated dance organ. He disappears through the door into the back and the music starts up. One of the kids didn’t catch that it was an automated organ and thought the guy was in the back playing the organ. When he comes out, everyone cheers and claps. It’s the most applause ever seen for someone hitting a start button.
We arrive back to the hotel. After the traditional Japanese lunch, the collective group is not feeling particularly adventurous on the food front. As luck would have it there is yet again a TGIF next to our hotel. Since we’ve confirmed in Osaka that TGIF doesn’t stand for Thank God It’s Fish Friday, we opt for that one. American chains in Japan are interesting. There are a few brands that are predominant and seen everywhere including McDonalds, TGIF, Starbucks and 7-11. There are other chains but more limited to densely populated urban areas.
Dinner is fabulous. We laughed the entire dinner reviewing the highlights and mishaps of the trip so far. The dinner represented one of goals of the trip – family bonding.
