The Magnificent Fuji-San

On our third day in Tokyo it was pouring with rain and we were tired from the previous days' exploring, so we did very little except make a brief visit to Tokyo Cityview at Roppongi Hills for some more views over the city. The next day the sun was out, so we explored Hakone, a national park area just outside Tokyo, and within great view of Mount Fuji.

Roppongi Hills is a tall building housing a modern art museum as well as a viewing deck. 

Tokyo Cityview allows some great views of the city, much better, we thought, than from Tokyo Skytree.

The red and white Eiffel Tower-inspired structure is Tokyo Tower, the second tallest building in Japan.

The next day we took a morning train to Hakone for some views of Mount Fuji.

Our train from Tokyo took us to Hakone-Yumoto, a small town nestled in a valley.

We had to take a walk through a small wooded area of cedars to get to Lake Ashi.

At the lake were some great views of snow-coated Fuji-San. It must be one of the most beautiful and impressive mountains I've seen.

To get closer to the mountain, we took this boat across the lake.

Then we took a cable car deeper into the mountains.

The mysterious mountain seemed to dwarf everything around it.

The cable car took us to Owakudani, which means "Great Boiling Valley." Here, volcanic sulphur vents and hot springs shoot steam and gas into the air.

It's tourist tradition to buy and eat black eggs to extend your lifespan. They tasted pretty much the same as any other egg.

Up close with the vents and thermal pools.

Getting the cable car back down to civilisation.

Back in Hakone-Yumoto.

One final shot of Fuji as the sun sets.

Getting a close look at Mount Fuji has been one of the highlights of Japan so far. It was also nice to get out of the city and see some Japanese countryside, which so far seems very beautiful.