Mt Fuji or Fuji-san is the spiritual home of Japan.

Like us millions of Japanese flock to the area of Hakone,west of Tokyo, to experience the magnificent views of Fuji-san from the cablecar or ropeway as they call it, and from Lake Ashi. Like us they had to use their imagination as the clod cover was so thick at times you couldn't see the towers that you were travelling between on the ropeway!!

The weather was not kind but the trip was fun.

We took the Romance car train (I don't know so why ask) from Shinjuku direct to Hakone-Yumoto and it's a pleasant and very efficient journey of 90 minutes.

We then jumped on the bus for the winding climbing trip to Moto-Hakone through wonderful mountain scenery and tiny villages perched on the side of cliffs.

We chose to walk the 2k down to Hakone-Machi so we could enjoy the cedar grove planted in the 1700's to give shade in summer and protection from snow in winter. Quite stunning.

We then stowed away on the pirate ship for the journey over Lake Ashi to Togendai. I bet it's magnificent on a clear day.

The trip from Togendai is by ropeway is again highly efficient but obscured totally by cloud. Pretty little towns along the way are very Japanese.

The next leg is by cablecar similar to the one in Rio taking you down to the tiny township of Gora. The lonley planet had whet out appetite by telling us of a gyoza restaurant but as Dad took a wrong turn in the walk down we arrived a few minutes after they stopped taking orders at 3pm. As with all things Japanese time is enforced!!!

Chips kept us going till the train arrived for the winding ride back to Hakone-Yumoto.

Spent a lovely hour or son wandering this quaint village and doing some souvenir shopping before jumping back on the Romance train for the trip back to Shinjuku.

There we successfully claimed our Japan Rail pass despite the language difficulties (Alessandra is coming good with her Japanese which helped a great deal) and managed to book our trips to and from Kyoto and the train to Narita to get home.

Famished by now we took a chance with the upstairs restaurants in the Lumine complex and were delighted with a gyoza dinner which went down a treat.

Back to the Hotel and a very long but wonderful day (shame about the cloud)

Last day in Tokyo tomorrow!!!