This morning I woke up slightly later than I planned at about 9:15. I had a shower and called mum. I left my hotel room at about 12:30 going to Akihabara station, charging my Icoca card and then getting on the Yamanote line to Tokyo.
At Tokyo I bought myself a late breakfast and some coffee and then got on Chou Line Rapid to Shinjuku. The train I got was a E209 train which there are only 2 of on the Chou line.
I reserved a seat on express train Azusa 25 bound for Takao (though the express only went as far as Hachioji), departing Shinjuku at 13:00. While waiting for the train I bought myself a chicken bento.
Arriving at Hachioji changed trains again for the Chuo Line Rapid, just a lot further down the line. I then got this to JR Takao before changing once again to the Keio Takao line for Takaosanguchi (Takao Mountain Entrance).
There was a cable car to get up to near the summit. It was really quite convenient although it cost about $5 per way which in the grand scheme of things is not that bad.
The walk to the summit was about 40 minutes, you had to pass through a shrine to get to the summit which was quite pretty. I took quite a few photos on the way up the mountain I will include a couple of the nice ones below.
Whilst climbing down I bought and eat some dango a traditional japanese rice based treat. I had the golden ones which were dipped in soy sauce they were yummy but I think that 3 is probably a bit much for me.
On my way to the top of Mt. Takao up I saw that there was a traditional japanese onsen at the station. I decided that this was something that I wanted to go to as it was a bucket list item for my trip to Japan. Unlike in the Aotearoa (NZ) when I have been to hot springs you bathe without clothes on. There is segregation into male and female baths. Before you get in the baths you shower and wash your hair. To be honest it did not feel weird to have a bath at a onsen in fact I found it to be very relaxing. The only thing is being in some of the hotter baths you can get really dehydrated luckily I thought about this before hopping in and put a bottle of “Pocari Sweat” in my locker.
After the onsen I had a couple of gyoza to make sure that I was ok.
I got the train back into Tokyo again taking an express from Hachioji to Shinjuku. From Shinjuku I couldn’t stand getting on the busy JR lines so I used the Oedo Line subway instead.
I called mum when I got back to the hotel at about 20:00, and then went back out for one of my favourite meals which I bought from a standing ramen shop at Akihabara Station it is Gyoza Ramen.
Today was a really good day, I went to bed at about 24:00 I have an early morning tomorrow.
To be continued…
Another fabulous read – – eating well — packed day!
You are right in your element Jem glad you are having such a good time. Glen
This is also from last year.