Check out time was 10:00 am. We got up around 8:00. We cooked some potatoes, eggs, and left over meat for our breakfast burritos. We splurged and even added avocado slices. We then cleaned up a bit and started to pack the cars. We left around 9:55 and were able to make it back to the reception building of the Koan Campground by 10:00. Check out was fairly straight forward, we gave them our presorted trash, paid the bill, and returned the keys.
We picked up a Yuru Camp tote bag from the campground’s office before heading outside. We then, decided to take a couple more pictures before leaving. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was still obscured by cloud cover.
For our morning activities we decided to check out the iconic Chureito Pagoda and Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine. It was a 40 or so minute drive back into the city of Fujiyoshida. The last part was up a set of narrow one way roads which led to the large main parking lot. The roads were so narrow that the exit was a different one way path leading back down the hill. We expected the area to be pretty busy and were looking for alternatives if the main parking lot was filled. To our surprise and perhaps because of the weather, the parking lot was not very busy at all.
Our first stop was up a short staircase and led to the Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine. It was a beautiful shrine nestled amongst the tall trees. We prayed, picked up a special seasonal goshuincho stamp that depicted the autumn leaves, and this special metal charm. We really liked how beautiful and intricate the design was. Our Japanese friend told us that it was supposed to bring us good fortune in the future.
After the shrine we headed up a series of stair cases. At the top was the iconic Chureito Pagoda. The scene of Chureito Pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the background has been the poster child for tourism in Japan. It’s the unmistakable view that has been showcased on numerous pieces of Japan tourism literature. There was a fairly large viewing platform that gave us panoramic photos of the pagoda, Mt. Fuji, and the nearby cities of Fujiyoshida and Fujikawaguchiko. Despite not being able to see Mt. Fuji, we were still able to take some beautiful pictures.
We were getting a bit hungry, so we decided to stop by Mensho Tora-ji for a late lunch. It was nice to have a warm hearty meal on such a cold day.
On our way back to Mito we stopped by Dangozaka SA Inbound. We were looking to get more Pokémon pins, but were disappointed to find that they were only at the Outbound side of the SA. The Outbound side had a robust omiyage (souvenir) selection and a covered outside patio with a large number of small vendors. We had some delicious chocolate Cremia ice cream before heading out. We then took the three or so hour drive back to Mito. We made sure to follow our phones Google Maps. We skirted around Tokyo and made it home in good time.
Final Thoughts: We really enjoyed our short weekend camping trip to Lake Motosu. We can’t wait to go back on a clear day and get that ¥1,000 view. We’d also like to explore the area a little more next time. Chureito Pagoda and Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine were both beautiful and must see attractions if your in the area.
More to Come…