Sunday, July 6, 2008
Confession
It's 9:25am. Can I just be a little honest? I'm sitting on a JR commuter train and I'm not really sure if I'm on the right one. I guess we'll see what happens!
Mt. Fuji Summit
My friend Nathan and I made it to the top of Mt. Fuji today. What we thought to be an easy hike turned out to be quite difficult. We started our ascent at around 11:10am and arrived at the summit at 2:30pm. The guidebook said that the hike could take anywhere from 4 to 7 hours; we did it in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Arriving at the top was an altogether different climate from when we began midway up the mountain. Mt. Fuji has an elevation of 12,388 ft., so the air at the top was rather thin and cold. The descent down only took and hour and a half. Every minute of the Fuji experience was well worth it.
Also, while we were on top of Mt. Fuji, we came across an unexplainable bit of scientific wonder. Please comment with your theories about this phenomenon.
Also, while we were on top of Mt. Fuji, we came across an unexplainable bit of scientific wonder. Please comment with your theories about this phenomenon.
Farewell Tokyo
It's Sunday 6:32am and I am saying good-bye to Tokyo, several of my friends, and the first leg of my Japan adventure. Tokyo's sprawling metropolitan, with its massive transportation system is whirring past my seat. I've had a good stay in the capital. The sights, tastes, long walks, and good company have been more than I could have asked for in a one and a half day stay.
Right now, I am sitting aboard a Shinkansen train headed for Shin Fuji Station. This train is by far the fastest train that I have ever taken in my life. Amtrak has a lot to learn from Japan. I'm actually on a Kodoma at the moment, one of the three types of Shinkansen. Although lightening fast, a Kodoma stops at all stations on the line. The other two, the Nozomi and Hikari stop only at larger stations. The difference between these two trains is that the Hikari may require a transfer, but the Nozomi doesn't due to its longer travel distance.
I'll be arriving in 30 minutes at Shin Fuji. It should be a rather interesting climb because today the weather is ominously overcast and reminds me of the day I climbed the Great Wall.
Right now, I am sitting aboard a Shinkansen train headed for Shin Fuji Station. This train is by far the fastest train that I have ever taken in my life. Amtrak has a lot to learn from Japan. I'm actually on a Kodoma at the moment, one of the three types of Shinkansen. Although lightening fast, a Kodoma stops at all stations on the line. The other two, the Nozomi and Hikari stop only at larger stations. The difference between these two trains is that the Hikari may require a transfer, but the Nozomi doesn't due to its longer travel distance.
I'll be arriving in 30 minutes at Shin Fuji. It should be a rather interesting climb because today the weather is ominously overcast and reminds me of the day I climbed the Great Wall.
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