富士 = Fuji

Yesterday was full-on tourist day.  Shuttled around the Mt. Fuji / Hakone area by motor coach, being let out every hour or so, just long enough to snap some pictures, or go for a cable car or boat ride, or get some lunch, or go to the bathroom.  Still, it was a good way to see Fuji, which remained unusually cloud-free all day, so we got some nice vistas.

We had dinner at a very traditional sushi place just behind the Shimbashi train station.  The place is full of small alleys bursting with restaurants and bars (and the occasional massage parlour).  It was Friday night, and salarymen were everywhere.  Every restaurant was filled with them, and many, many more out in the streets and alleys.  It was very cool.  After several attempts we found a place with room for 4 of us; on the 3rd floor above a sushi bar.  It was traditional low tables and leave your shoes at the entrance kinda vibe.  Somehow we managed to order with our very limited Japanese language skills- the only bump was that we ended up with an extra plate of sashimi.  So it goes.  Every table on every floor was packed, but we were the only westerners.  Had a wonderful time with the 4 of us.