Gakunan Tetsudo beer train

The Gakunan Tetsudo is a small, private train line that runs from Yoshiwara Station to Gakunan-Enoo Station in Fuji City. The area served by this train line is fairly isolated and industrial so chances are you'll never have to take it. But there's no better reason to check it out than the annual beer train!

Such a brilliant concept really - you buy a ticket (about 2200 yen) and drink all the beer you can while the train goes to the end of the line and back (one hour). Depending on how many beers you drink, it can be a pretty good deal. Snacks are provided but most Japanese people bring food with them. Chances are you'll be the only foreigner on board so be prepared to make friends! This was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in Japan.

The beer train departs from Yoshiwara Station on Friday evenings in July and August at around 7:00 p.m. Please check at the station for more information and tickets. The Gakunan Tetsudo also has a jazz train sometimes (live jazz band on board) but I don't think it will happen again this year.



*Pics by Em

Mt. Fuji Fifth Station

There is a lot of information out there about how to get to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo. But if you actually live in the area around Mt. Fuji, you may not know that there are direct buses that go to the Fifth Station (Fujinomiya Trail), the starting point for most people who climb. You can catch the bus from Shin Fuji Station, Fuji Station or Fujinomiya Station. It costs 3000 yen for a return ticket (2310 yen one way).

It's pretty cool taking a bus up into the sky and looking out over the clouds. It's also a good option for those who aren't interested in climbing but just want to set foot on Mt. Fuji. There are a restaurant and gift shop at the Fifth Station so you can hang out for a while before heading back down. It's pretty chilly even in summer.

Information on the Fujinomiya trail can be found here, including bus schedules. Note that bus times vary depending on the time of the year, with more buses available in the peak climbing season in July and August.

View from bus

View from Fifth Station

Bus stop at the Fifth Station

Restaurant at the Fifth Station

AEON Mall Fujinomiya

Fuji City has its own AEON Mall, but AEON Fujinomiya is bigger with a lot more options. A main feature is the huge JUSCO department store where you can get just about everything for your home and bigger sizes of clothes and shoes to fit the foreign frame. Prices at JUSCO are quite cheap for Japan.
There are several restaurants and fast food joints, an impressive Dojima electronics store, purikura and Kaldi Coffee - a chain store that sells foreign foods. There you can get treats from the US, Australia, the UK, Canada, China, Southeast Asia and other places. There are also ingredients to cook Mexican and Indian food. You can pick up real hot sauce and real cheese too (a luxury not available in the average Japanese grocery).

AEON Mall Fujinomiya is a short walk from Fujinomiya Station. If you arrive by train, exit to the left and go down the stairs. The exact location is here.

Fujinomiya Station

Fujinomiya Station is easy to get to from Fuji either by JR train or by bus from Yoshiwara Chuo Station/Fuji Station. Besides being able to catch buses around Fujinomiya, you can also connect to some of the best tourist sites in the country from here. For example, during the climbing season you can catch a bus to Mt. Fuji Fifth Station.

You can also get buses about once an hour to Shiraito waterfall, Taiseki-ji temple, Makaino Farm, Asagiri Highlands, Fuuketsu wind cave, Lake Tanuki, Lake Motosu, Lake Kawaguchi (and the very picturesque Fuji Five Lakes region) and Fujikyuu Highlands amusement park. I'm sure there are many more places along the way but I haven't explored them all. It's just a beautiful part of the country, inaccessible by train, and the buses from Fujinomiya Station will get you there.

Buses depart from Fujinomiya Station to Fujikyuu Highlands (with stops at Shiraito falls, Asagiri Highlands, Lake Motosu, Fuuketsu wind cave, Midori no Kyuu Kamura green village, Kawaguchi Station etc) at: 8:35, 9:05, 9:50, 10:35, 11:35, 13:05, 14:55, 15:45 and 17:05. The last bus back from Fujikyuu Highlands is at 17:35.

Geleeun's Coffee House

This beautifully decorated brick house turned cafe offers a nice selection of coffee, tea, dessert and light meals at reasonable prices. Opening hours are 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. It's located here, close to Fuji City Hall, so may be a good place to relax after you pick up your gaijin card.

Anmitsu and cream hotcakes

A glimpse at the menu