Okay, I am sorry for the long delay in posting stuff. However, managing a blog turned out to be more work than I had planned on. So, I am picking up the adventure with my climb of Mt. Fuji. This was much more exciting than I had originally planned but a lot of fun. I had to make two attempts on the mountain because the weather turned nasty during my first attempt and drove me off the mountain. I made a second attempt the weekend after making a long day trip from Tokyo to climb the mountain. However, it was well worth the effort. The photo to the left has nothing to do with Fuji, I just thought it was funny.
My feet the night after the climb.
Yoshinoya is great for cheap and tasty food in Japan. Ironically, it is a Chinese restaurant.
Sunset over Fuji
Me in front of the Kusushidake Shrine at the top of Mt. Fuji, 12,388 feet above sea level
Kusushidake Shrine
A mountain hut just below the summit
The mountain huts, these huts provided a variety of services such as bathrooms, food and shelter. The classic way to climb Mt. Fuji is to start climbing around noon, stay at a hut for the night and climb to the summit in time to see the sunrise from the summit. Everything costs a fortune at the huts though.
Crowds climbing the mountain. This is near the trail head so the crowds have not spread out as much.
Komitake Shrine, this shrine is at the trail head. It is traditional to come here to offer your prayers to the mountain spirits before you start climbing.
On the train back to Tokyo
The train to the base of the mountain
Fuji Royal Hotel: This was a very nice hotel but they had converted their ballroom into dormitory style rooms they rent for cheap. The perk to this place was that you also got to use their bath and hot springs which was great after a long day of slogging through the rain.
The town of Kawaguchiko located on the Kawaguchi lake just below Mt. Fuji
Entrance to Fuji Royal Hotel with Hydrangeas in bloom
View from the mountain hut I stayed at on my first attempt at Fuji. I spent most of the afternoon just enjoying this view.
The edge of Tokyo from the Hut I stayed at
Me and the clouds
It is a Shinto traditional to carry a pair of bells with you up Mt. Fuji to let the mountain spirits know you are coming. It is kind of like a bare bell only for divine beings. Here people are leaving their bells at an alter to a spirit near the end of the trail as they come down. 
View of the huts from top of the first switchback 
A tour group preparing to leave the sixth station and head up the first switchback.
Trail Head MarkerThis is a video I took the night the weather turned bad on my first attempt on the mountain. You cannot see much but you can hear the wind and see the lights of Tokyo in the distance. I hope this video works.
