Backdate: Japan Tokyo Dec 2018 Day 8

Friday, July 19, 2019

Backdate: Japan Tokyo Dec 2018 Day 8

18/12/18 Tues: Potato forgot to bring his handphone, and while I was waiting for him downstairs, I took a photo of the security camera outside the lift haha. We had breakfast at a random eatery nearby. He had wanted to show me the vending machine that Japanese used often for ordering food. Basically, the colourful machine would dispense the ticket for you after you make payment, and then you bring the ticket over to the staff and they would then prepare your meal for you.

It was a simple and hot soba with egg for me! Two of us took the train from Omori to Takaosanguchi Station, where we will start our hike up Mount Takao.

Saw a hipster ahma next to me with blue hair~ and found a new pair of ear plugs on the train... put it to good use at night to reduce hearing Potato's "orchestra" haha~ Oh what a nice view when we stepped out of the station~ 10am in the morning and the scenery was awesome.

We walked a bit further to find Trail 6 (supposedly the second most difficult one among others) to the summit. The trail is 3.3km long, and it took us 1hour 15minutes to arrive at the top. There was a long flight of stairs somewhere which was challenging for me, so we took more time there.

The above was the starting point, and as it rained a day earlier, the path was a bit muddy, but still walkable with normal sneakers.

We chanced upon two places of worship in the caves not along after we started, and then more small shrines later on.

Felt hotter as we went up, so I took off my down jacket. Tried to do a "star-jump" as the scenery was pretty but my hair omg lol...

My stomach was painful by the time we were near the top, so I rushed for their toilet. I didn't expect the hi-tech toilet bowls and it to be so spacious and clean. *Thumbs-up to the Japanese~*

Was 11+am by the time we were up there at the 599m peak of Mt Takao, sunny but the view was stunning! We took a few photos and went into a information centre. Saw a satellite image of Mt Takao on the floor inside, and also a model of a "life-sized" flying squirrel!

Potato went to get oden for us to share as lunch... not bad. Soon, we were ready to take Trail 4 down, in which we crossed a suspension bridge.

A different kind of beauty and side to Mt Takao there. We reached the point where Trail 4 and 1 met, in which the latter was most popular amongst tourists as it was the easiest route up.

I still craved for some mini pop ice-cream though the weather was cold keke. *Potato didn't know these were mini ice-cream, and thought they were only toppings lol.* A pity the chair lift down was closed for repair, so we queued and took the cable car down instead, which costed 480￥ for one-way. *The steep slope of 31.8 degrees is said to be the steepest in Japan.*

Many hikers were seen scrubbing their shoes outside the train stations. We travelled to Oimachi station and waited for the rest to reach for dinner. *Saw many racing ads and posters in the trains and stations.*

2 of us had some onigiris while waiting for the rest, and also bought breakfast (1021￥) for the next morning at a random mart inside the shopping centre. I also gifted Potato a proper down jacket from Uniqlo (7990￥). His shoes also gave way terribly while climbing Mt Takao, and the masking tape was falling off too aiyoh~ so we got him a new pair of Nike sneakers on sale from PLST.

Tried a random strawberry jello (270￥) but it was only so-so.

When Ian, Yuri, James and Gwen reached, we headed to Sushi Kyotatsu Ooimachi for dinner. We had sake to start the meal, and most of the sushi and sashimi were great, especially the aburi ones, but the starter uni tasted bad imo though.

Treat from the guys~ and we popped into SWANK bar at Omori after that for a short while. I kind of liked the ambience in there but it was a little "too comfy" in the dark...