We decided to give a full day and night to a visit to Mt. Fuji. We left Tokyo at 8:30 for a pleasant hour train ride to a packed station where every other tourist in Japan was also trying to get to Mt. Fuji (less pleasant). We figured out how to buy tickets, and then crammed into the next train which was so full we didn't have seats (which seems to be unusual on long train rides here).
Finally we arrived to Lake Kawaguchiko, dropped our things off at the hotel and got our first great views of Mt. Fuji! I'd read that it can be hit or miss- that if it's cloudy out you might never see Fuji, so I think we got pretty lucky. The sky was a bit hazy, but we still loved the views and the cherry blossoms made it all the more beautiful
Our hotel receptionist said that this tree right outside the building is the prettiest one in town!
Then we got back on another train to visit the Chureito Pagoda, where you can climb 400 stairs (easier than it sounds) for breathtaking views.
The rest of the day we spent relaxing at our hotel's onsen, a traditional communal bath, with a view of the mountain. Julia did some yoga, but I've been sitting here working on my blog! Now off to dinner and then tomorrow: Kyoto!