Trip Index
- Days 1-2 in Tokyo: Planning, JAL business class, Hyatt Regency, Meiji Shrine, Tokyu Food Hall, Don Quixote
- Days 3-4 in Tokyo: Asakusa, Tokyo National Museum, Imperial Palace, Robot Restaurant, conveyor belt sushi/ramen/blowfish
- Day 5 in Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Standing Sushi Bar
- Days 1-2 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Embarkation, day at sea
- Days 3-4 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Hakodate, day at sea
- Days 5-6 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Bridge tour, Petropavlovsk (Siberia)
- Days 7-13 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: crossing the Bering Sea, two May 4ths, Qsine
- Days 14-15 of Celebrity Millennium transpacific cruise: Victoria, disembarkation, Miku; Ruby Princess 1-night cruise Vancouver to Seattle
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On Friday, we had an early breakfast in the Hyatt Regency Tokyo lounge as our Yokoso tour to Mt. Fuji was to meet at 7:20am at the nearby Shinjuku Washington Hotel. The itinerary included a 30-minute all-you-can-eat session at a strawberry farm, followed by lunch at Mt. Fuji 5th station, then finally to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival to see the brilliantly colored moss phlox.
The tour confirmation said to meet on the third floor. Kaleb and I took the escalators up and walked around until we found a large room with people standing in small groups; a staff member was directing newcomers to their respective spot. Our tour guide arrived and led our group down to the waiting coach. It was nice that our bus was only two-thirds full.
After an hour and a half drive, we reached the strawberry farm, consisting of several greenhouses. Everyone received a plastic tray that was divided into two sections; one containing sweetened condensed milk for dipping and the other to hold discarded stems. We had 30 minutes to pick and eat. Even though I had breakfast, I was able to down a great many berries. The plants grew in a spacious, protected environment, so the fruit was mostly unblemished and nicely shaped for a perfect bite. It was a long greenhouse, so Kaleb and I went as far as we could down the row to find areas that weren't already stripped by previous tourists. After the 30 minutes were up, we exited the greenhouse, though many of our tour mates had already left. There was a brief potty break for those who didn't mind using rustic facilities. Some of our group purchased baskets of strawberries to enjoy later.
Another hour and a half drive got us to Mt. Fuji 5th station. It was cold and windy; unfortunately, the peak was shrouded in clouds. The included lunch was very filling. We had time to walk around the area and use the fee-free restroom facilities before hopping back on the bus. The next time we return to Mt. Fuji, we plan to hike to the summit.
An hour ride later, we arrived at the Fuji Shibazakura Festival (held annually between April and May). The weather had worsened to a light rain with wind. There was no chance of having the backdrop of Mt. Fuji today. The moss phlox was not yet fully in bloom, but it was still a beautiful garden.
There was a food court where all transactions went through vending machines. Warm steamed buns hit the spot on this wet, chilly afternoon. A large tent with tables and chairs was available to hide out from the storm, with live entertainment akin to street performances. There were ample and clean port-a-potties. Walking back to the bus, we tried mochi made with mugwort...very interesting!
Then it was back on the bus - a two hour ride to Tokyo with a rest stop in between.
Along the way, the sky cleared, the sun came out and Mt. Fuji's peak was clear! The tour guide had the bus stop at a strip mall on the side of the road and gave us ten minutes to take pictures.
The rest stop was just off the highway, so huge that it felt like a shopping mall. There were souvenir stands, restaurants and fast food inside, crowded with long lines. Kaleb and I ended up purchasing drinks from a vending machine outside. The coffee machine had live video to show that it was being made fresh. The can of "luxury mandarin orange" juice I got was so good. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it again before we left Tokyo. The juice is for sale online, but the shipping rates are sky high.
33-second video of a vending machine showing the coffee being made: (click here if you cannot see the preview below)
When the bus returned to Tokyo, we had a choice of disembarking at the Shinjuku west exit or back at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel. Kaleb and I elected to get out at the west exit as it was closer to Standing Sushi Bar, our dinner spot for tonight. We had walked by this place several times over the past week without knowing that it was highly rated on Yelp. You really do stand to eat, as there is very little room, only 8-10 people max. No iPad ordering, but there was an English menu. Other items were listed on the wall in Japanese, but we couldn't decipher it. Whenever we wanted to order, we got the attention of the sushi chef and pointed to the item on the menu. Everything was super yummy and easy on the wallet.
Kaleb and I returned to the hotel in time for cocktail hour, enjoying some hot appetizers along with drinks.
This was our last night in Tokyo. Time flew fast! Tomorrow, we make our way to Oi port to board Celebrity Millennium for a 14-night transpacific cruise - stay tuned!
(Missed reading the first parts of our trip? Click on the links in the Trip Index at the top of the page!)
If you came here from a Facebook or Twitter link, thanks for clicking the "Facebook Like" button at the top of the page or retweeting!
Don't miss a blog entry! Sign up for updates direct to your inbox here or add the blog to your RSS feed.
Getting excited reading about these trips and want to go? Contact me at yellowdogtravel at gmail d0t com with your ideas and I can help you plan it! Or if you've already put a deposit on a cruise through the cruise line, contact me to get more information on transferring the reservation to me to get bonuses like extra onboard credit or gifts. I have lots of happy returning clients - references always available.
Come check out my other blog "What in the world is Kat Kong doing now?", documenting things other than traveling...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!
Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
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The tour confirmation said to meet on the third floor. Kaleb and I took the escalators up and walked around until we found a large room with people standing in small groups; a staff member was directing newcomers to their respective spot. Our tour guide arrived and led our group down to the waiting coach. It was nice that our bus was only two-thirds full.
 |  |
After an hour and a half drive, we reached the strawberry farm, consisting of several greenhouses. Everyone received a plastic tray that was divided into two sections; one containing sweetened condensed milk for dipping and the other to hold discarded stems. We had 30 minutes to pick and eat. Even though I had breakfast, I was able to down a great many berries. The plants grew in a spacious, protected environment, so the fruit was mostly unblemished and nicely shaped for a perfect bite. It was a long greenhouse, so Kaleb and I went as far as we could down the row to find areas that weren't already stripped by previous tourists. After the 30 minutes were up, we exited the greenhouse, though many of our tour mates had already left. There was a brief potty break for those who didn't mind using rustic facilities. Some of our group purchased baskets of strawberries to enjoy later.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Another hour and a half drive got us to Mt. Fuji 5th station. It was cold and windy; unfortunately, the peak was shrouded in clouds. The included lunch was very filling. We had time to walk around the area and use the fee-free restroom facilities before hopping back on the bus. The next time we return to Mt. Fuji, we plan to hike to the summit.
|
|
 |  |
 |
|
|
|
An hour ride later, we arrived at the Fuji Shibazakura Festival (held annually between April and May). The weather had worsened to a light rain with wind. There was no chance of having the backdrop of Mt. Fuji today. The moss phlox was not yet fully in bloom, but it was still a beautiful garden.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
There was a food court where all transactions went through vending machines. Warm steamed buns hit the spot on this wet, chilly afternoon. A large tent with tables and chairs was available to hide out from the storm, with live entertainment akin to street performances. There were ample and clean port-a-potties. Walking back to the bus, we tried mochi made with mugwort...very interesting!
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |
|
 |  |
Then it was back on the bus - a two hour ride to Tokyo with a rest stop in between.
Along the way, the sky cleared, the sun came out and Mt. Fuji's peak was clear! The tour guide had the bus stop at a strip mall on the side of the road and gave us ten minutes to take pictures.
 |  |
The rest stop was just off the highway, so huge that it felt like a shopping mall. There were souvenir stands, restaurants and fast food inside, crowded with long lines. Kaleb and I ended up purchasing drinks from a vending machine outside. The coffee machine had live video to show that it was being made fresh. The can of "luxury mandarin orange" juice I got was so good. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it again before we left Tokyo. The juice is for sale online, but the shipping rates are sky high.
|
|
33-second video of a vending machine showing the coffee being made: (click here if you cannot see the preview below)
 |
|
|
|
When the bus returned to Tokyo, we had a choice of disembarking at the Shinjuku west exit or back at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel. Kaleb and I elected to get out at the west exit as it was closer to Standing Sushi Bar, our dinner spot for tonight. We had walked by this place several times over the past week without knowing that it was highly rated on Yelp. You really do stand to eat, as there is very little room, only 8-10 people max. No iPad ordering, but there was an English menu. Other items were listed on the wall in Japanese, but we couldn't decipher it. Whenever we wanted to order, we got the attention of the sushi chef and pointed to the item on the menu. Everything was super yummy and easy on the wallet.
 |
|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Kaleb and I returned to the hotel in time for cocktail hour, enjoying some hot appetizers along with drinks.
 |  |
This was our last night in Tokyo. Time flew fast! Tomorrow, we make our way to Oi port to board Celebrity Millennium for a 14-night transpacific cruise - stay tuned!
(Missed reading the first parts of our trip? Click on the links in the Trip Index at the top of the page!)
***
If you came here from a Facebook or Twitter link, thanks for clicking the "Facebook Like" button at the top of the page or retweeting!
Don't miss a blog entry! Sign up for updates direct to your inbox here or add the blog to your RSS feed.
Getting excited reading about these trips and want to go? Contact me at yellowdogtravel at gmail d0t com with your ideas and I can help you plan it! Or if you've already put a deposit on a cruise through the cruise line, contact me to get more information on transferring the reservation to me to get bonuses like extra onboard credit or gifts. I have lots of happy returning clients - references always available.
Come check out my other blog "What in the world is Kat Kong doing now?", documenting things other than traveling...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!
Another disclaimer: The intention of this blog was to remind Future Me in full detail about where I went and what I did. I could have made it private, but I frequently get questions from family, friends and internet folks about how I planned things, got deals, etc., so instead of repeating the story over and over, I direct them here. If you are offended by anything I say or do, save yourself the discomfort and kindly click away from my blog. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!
