[JAPAN 2014] Day 4: Mt. Fuji Shibazakura Festival

DAY 4 (16 May 2014): Shibazakura Festival
- Mt. Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Today is my most anticipated day! I found out that we would be in time for the Mt. Fuji Shibazakura Festival and decided we should go there by any means, since we missed out on cherry blossom seasons.

We tried to book the bus to go there directly but it was unfortunately sold out. But of course, Japan's transit system never lets me down, and I already know they have a train that goes there so after booking our tickets the day before at Shinjuku station, we were set!

If you are in Japan during early May, please consider going here because it's absolutely beautiful! The pictures doesn't do it justice, but here they are anyway :9 

Our first glimpse of Mt. Fuji on the train!

The train stopped at this station for quite a few minutes - I actually think you could just get off the train for a few minutes photoshoot at this signboard and hop back on! We didn't know this but when it dawned on us, we were worried the train was going to leave soon just as we would get off lol. Missed opportunities!

The station we alighted off, with Mt. Fuji shrouded by clouds.

Look at all the photographers lined up with their tripod waiting for that perfect moment when the sky is clear.

Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves there! Definitely one of the highlight of this trip :) Great scenery, good food, good friends - perfect combination. 

Afterwards we headed back to Tokyo for a 1 night stay before heading off to Okayama the next day. Originally I planned to book a nobi nobi seat on the night train from Tokyo which will arrive early in Okayama. But the train is fully booked - the only downside to the train system in Japan is that you can't book certain special trains online. Ah well, c'est la vie.

So we had to make do and book a last minute hotel (Toyoko Inn at Shin-Yokohama) for a one night stay and head onto the earliest train to Okayama. Unfortunately, this would mean we would arrive in Okayama around 11am instead of the originally planned 6am and wouldn't leave us much time to actually explore Okayama or Kurashiki, since we had an appointment for Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in the afternoon :( More on that in the next post!

That advert looks sketchy... didn't look and I didn't even notice it until I looked at this picture, heh.

Go to Day 3 (Tokyo) | Day 5 (Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Tour)
Japan 2014 Masterpost