So last week we went on a mini-vacation with Jake's last remaining girlfriend, Aisha and her very cool parents! We drove to Kawaguchi-ko (about an hour and a half from Tokyo) and stayed in a self contained wooden chalet type place. Perfect for the kids - lots of room to play and perfect for the adults who had plenty of space to hang out after the babes went to bed although Miss A stayed up later than I did both nights!! Much unlike J who can't stay up past 7:30pm.
Oh and our place had a view of Mt Fuji. Sorry for the blurry pic - it was like 5am when I took this.
Inside the chalet -there was a lovely little fully equipped kitchen and the floors were heated. J was immediately drawn to the stairs and climbed them VERY proficiently. It was scary to watch and we had to use a spare futon to block them off the whole time we were there. There was a very spacious bath and shower, but we used the rotenburo (outdoor hot springs) that had a view of Mt Fuji both nights.
Each place can sleep up to six people although we had one per family - there was a bedroom with western beds but we used the tatami mat loft area to sleep in and filled it with very comfy futons and they had the best warm fluffy kakebutons (the futons that you cover yourself with as opposed to the ones you sleep on)
On the way home we decided to take some detours and one led us up Mt Fuji. You can drive up to Station Five. It was very very cool!
up above the clouds
the fake fuji
it was a great little autumn getaway to escape hectic tokyo life! only problem is that i was we were still there.
Ahhh.. that looks so relaxing! I'm so jealous, I'd love to have a vacation like that right now! :)
Posted by: Jeanie | November 11, 2008 at 01:36 AM
Oh, how I miss sleeping on futons on tatami, not to mention soaking in rotenburos!
Looks like you had an awesome time. Isn't Fuji-san impressive? I climbed to the top from Stn 5 in 2001, something I highly recommend.
Hope your refreshed feeling lasts a while!
Posted by: Jenn | November 11, 2008 at 02:20 AM
how lovely! i'm so jealous of your little getaway.
Posted by: gleek | November 11, 2008 at 12:19 PM
That is some FRESH tatami! Sounds like a wonderful autumn getaway -- I'm envious!
Posted by: Anjali | November 12, 2008 at 01:48 PM