Groove busting japanese business men in Roppongi to the snow capped mountains in Kawaguchi!

Friday and Saturday in Tokyo were pretty quiet - I did lots of walking and wandering around but not much else besides that! To be honest, there is only so much you can do in Tokyo unless you are minted or have a fascination with all sorts of temples. Friday night, I went out with Noriko and two of her friends - I met Norikos friend Tomoko at Hongo 3 Chome station and we waited for Noriko to finish work, we then went to Roppongi on the tube and we went the wrong way! haha! The first time I have done that since Ive been here and I was with 2 girls who live and work in Tokyo!! Anyway after about a 40 minute de-tour, we arrived at Roppongi and it was so funny - I cant really decribe the atmosphere other than being a bit mental... there was bongo drumming bands, men and women wearing the most glitter ive ever seen, banging music emanating from every bar and restaurant with salespeople outside trying to entice you in and english, australian or american accents to be heard at every turn! We went to a bar called Wall Street Bar to meet Noriko's other friend who'd been in Hiroshima for business and so he was joining us later... the bar was one of the funniest places ive ever been - the staff were so enthusiastic they looked they were going to burst and they treated us like we were the most important customers they'd ever had! There were japanese business men with their briefcases giving it all they had got to songs like dancing queen, staying alive, im every woman and cheesy english/american stuff like that! Two guys had a dance off on the stage - one of whom was incredibly camp and sooo funny! I think they made me laugh non stop for about 2 hours! I asked if all Japanese men dance like that and apparently they do! Oh... my... god.
Anyway, then we went and got something to eat at an Italian restuarant near by which was lovely (apart from the bit where they told me i was mental for visiting homeless people in Tennoji - apparently one of the most avoided areas of Japan - oops.) and after a very long and speedy run, managed to catch the last tube back.



I am now at Lake Kawaguchi after a beautiful bus journey from Shinjuku, Tokyo. Lake Kawaguchi is one of the five Fuji lakes which were formed when lava flow from a volcanic eruption of mount Fuji spread across the area, damming up rivers and forming lakes. Despite Kawaguchi being the most popular starting point for the climb up Mount Fuji, nearby Hakone is the most popular tourist spot which means this place is quiet and its really beautiful too. (apart from a tourist attraction nearby - Fuji Q highland, an amusement park which has the biggest rollercoasters in Japan.) In terms of the town and the buildings, it actually is quite a run down area - I assume because they dont have enough money from tourism to carry out renovations etc.. but the natural beauty is amazing.
Sadly, there has been thick cloud since I arrived so I havent had a glimpse of mount fuji- except for the very base of it... which isn't that exciting! The weather forecast says it will clear up and be sunny tommorrow so I plan to get up around 5.30-6am for a morning of hiking - the views of Fuji along the route I'm planning on doing are supposed to best in the morning, if the weather is good and the morning mist has lifted. I have to leave here at 4pm tommorrow to get back to Tokyo for the night so I reeeeeally hope I get to see Mt Fuji before I go. Dont worry - little miss clumsy won't be climbing up it - hiking Mt Fuji is strictly forbidden by the local authorities from October onwards. When I arrived yesterday, it was the day of the Nikkon Sports Marathon - apparently quite a famous marathon but I have to admit I've not ever heard of it... so there were runners everywhere - well actually it was mostly people limping around as the marathon was coming to an end. I managed to take a very long detour trying to find the hostel im staying in but when I found it eventually it was definitely worth it - by the far the best hostel I have stayed in yet! And.... free english tea and milk - what more could I want! haha. I dropped my bags off and walked around the area some more followed by a trip to 7-11 to stock up on cheap food and then went back to the hostel, ate my packet of spaghetti bolognese and then went to the DVD room where there is a stock of DVDs and some nice comfy sofas.. I watched 'you, me and dupree' which was funny and then I went to bed! This morning I got up early and went and hired a bike and ive cycled about 20 miles - including all the way round Lake Kawaguchi.... SOOOO beautiful and loads of fisherman out and about - i really wanted to ask them questions but a) my japanese is terrible and not sure sign language whilst discussing fishing and fish would be very helpful! and b) I know its quite odd for women to be interested in fishing even in England so they probably would think I am mentally deranged in this country! I made some ham sandwiches and stopped on a bench on the lakeside and ate them for my lunch, it was so peaceful and so pretty.

I dont really know where else I cycled, I just took a map and cycled all over the place really. I swear I now have a bicyle-shaped bottom. Despite the fact I decided to cycle today so that i could give my ankle a break, it is really painful today - it was really painful for most of yesterday too, I'm certain its the change in temperature so today I'm wearing think tights, two pairs of socks and legwarmers to keep my ankles warm! haha! Glamorous or what?! Anyway fingers crossed it is less hurty tommorrow because i want to go super-hiking!

I saw a nice restaurant up the road as I was cycling around today so am going to head off in a bit to treat myself to a meal out!

Back to Tokyo tommorrow for one night and then G'day sydney!! xx