Traveling Outside and Within: Fuji-San, Fuji-San! Where art thou Fuji-San?

The point of going to Hakone was to see Mount Fuji, which I have seen only once and very briefly, from a Shinkansen miles away. Because of predicted poor weather, we had stayed in Tokyo for the morning with Yutaka, coming to Hakone later in the day; the weather was scheduled to brighten with full sun predicted, so we were optimistic, indeed rather sure, of our chances to see the emblematic mountain of Japan!

I ended the previous blog with a green hillside and fog/cloud bank/ what have you. In the morning, we saw blue sky-

And those hydrangeas I wrote about yesterday? Here is fairly accurate depiction from a poster in the local railroad station--except for the ones hanging above--

We began the day with a feast of a breakfast: ten separate items! (Naturally I forgot my camera, but maybe Sam or Jame got a picture.) Then a short walk to a cable car, which carried us up a steep grade where we caught a bus that climbed a twisty mountain road to Lake Ashi. Now the sky still hasn't completely cleared, and we don't know where or if Fuji will appear--this direction? Over there?

The lake is the terminus of a ropeway with magnificent views!!! Or so we read. Unfortunately, part of the ropeway is closed due to toxic volcanic gases--that's why we took the bus, BUT the other section was still supposed to be open. Did you notice I said "supposed to be?" Because it wasn't. Closed for maintenance. We consoled ourselves with green tea ice cream and waited for our cruise down the lake.

Sam tutored me on the art of taking a selfie!

Now it was a beautiful day, but the sky had not totally cleared. We're feeling nervous. And, though the ride was pleasant, no Mountain appeared. Not a glimpse. We still don't know the direction in which it lay. Probably it loomed over the entire landscape!

Without a moment to spare--the ticket agent told Jame, "Go now!!! Go now!" And we did! One of the bus stops was a fancy spa with hot pools of tea, coffee and red wine. We were perplexed imagining such experiences. Having abandoned our hope of seeing the Great Fujiama, we turned our sights to Kamakura and Big Buddha #1, my personal favorite!

We decided to eat lunch on the train. There is not a dining car; instead one purchases lunches and dines. There was an entire level above the train station with these comparmentalized meals, and we enjoyed shopping for our personal preferences. We were happy to finally board, so we could begin to eat!

Finally--Kamakura! A taxi ride, a short walk, and we were there! After walking through the gate, Sam said, "I don't see anything--Woooooooow!"

Apparently this Buddha likes to be outdoors. Originally housed and re-housed, each time the structure was re-built it was destroyed, so they left him in the glory of nature. No more calamities followed.

Such a marvelously peaceful place. It is impossible to capture on camera the size of the Buddha. He is 44 feet tall; imagine if he stood!

AND--an opportunity for more selfie lessons--

Here are the great Buddha's hands: Fingers interlaced, thumb and index finger touching. A Japanese man told us that the Buddha holds many people in those cupped hands, what a comforting thought!