Today’s tour from Tokyo to Shizuoka was a mostly relaxed one, spent largely on the bus as we made our way from one stop to the next. Altogether, we were on the road for about three hours. It is just enough time to sit back, enjoy the scenery drifting past the window, or even sneak in a quick nap like I did.

We then stopped at the Fifth Station of Mt Fuji, where the air instantly turned cooler and the views opened up beautifully.

But sadly, the weather suddenly shifted, and the elusive Mt Fuji stayed hidden behind the clouds.

So we decided to just wander around the area for a bit, and before we knew it, the sun slowly came back out.

We ended up taking a lovely stroll to the nearby shrine, quietly tucked among trees that had already shed their leaves. It gave the whole place a calm, almost wintery charm.

Suddenly, we could hear a wave of excitement through the crowd. Mt Fuji had finally appeared, just for a few precious minutes, before slipping back behind the thick clouds. It was brief, but magical all the same.

Well, that’s travelling for you… unpredictable, surprising, sometimes frustrating but always wonderful.

Our next stop was Lake Kawaguchiko, and I absolutely loved it. The trees were bursting with vibrant reds and oranges, creating the perfect autumn scene.

It was such a relaxing spot for a quick lunch break and even a simple toilet stop felt peaceful with that kind of view.

The Fuji Five Lakes region sits at the base of Mount Fuji, made up of Lake Kawaguchiko, which I mentioned earlier, as well as Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko, and Motosuko. We passed by a few of these during the tour, though I’ll be honest, I can’t quite remember which ones they were anymore. All I know is that each one had its own quiet charm as we walked through.

Then we made our way to Oshino-Hakkai, a charming little village known for its crystal-clear spring water and traditional thatched-roof houses.

And yes… finally, a perfect, unobstructed view of Mt Fuji. It felt like the mountain was rewarding us for waiting all day.

We grabbed a quick bite before heading off to our hotel for check-in.

And YES, this was the view of Mt Fuji right from our room. After chasing glimpses of the mountain all day, seeing it so clearly from our window felt like the perfect ending to our day.

This was in 6 November 2025.