*disclosure…I’m finally writing this post months after I’ve left Japan. But I need to catch up at some point so here we go.
From Tokyo I took the Romancecar (an old train that winds through the mountains) to Hakone, the city near to Mt. Fuji. I stayed at a hostel that had an onsen (japanese public bath) in it. My hostel was nice and cozy, so I took a lazy day and caught up on some writing while curled up under a heated blanket. All throughout my travels I’ve struggled with this subtle yet hounding guilt when I take days to sit and do what feels like nothing. I validate that the feeling is rooted in comparing my travel style to holiday-goers, and a social expectation to make the most of every place I go to and “see all the things.” But then I remember that I’m traveling for a looong time and this isn’t just a trip, this is the current status of my life. And since I am human, sometimes I need a day of nothing. And, it is an unrealistic expectation to see everything in every location I pass through. Ok, back to the hostel with the beautiful bath…
I took a nap in the evening and woke up after the onsen was supposed to be closed. Hopeful and determined not to miss out on the in-house onsen, I went downstairs and found the door was still unlocked. So lucky me, I snuck in for a 2am private onsen session in my birthday suit under the night sky. Dreamy!
In the morning I took the bus down to town to see Mt. Fuji. I met some American boys on the bus and we hung out by the lake together soaking in the view. The mountain is notorious for being shy, clouds often covering the peak. This proved to be true, but I waited patiently and pretty soon the clouds almost entirely parted (thank you Mt. Fuji!). I made a dumb joke about “Fuji water” to the boys. I realized a week later that it was FIJI water I was referring to. 🙄🤦♀️ Obviously, they didn’t get the joke. Satisfied with the view, I left for Kyoto in the afternoon.
Bridge Over Distance 