For our third full day in Japan, we spent time learning about magnetic levitating trains, visiting a traditional Japanese town, and getting recharged in nature along with seeing Mount Fuji! While initially boarding the bus and settling into our seats, we watched a Studio Ghibli movie called Castle in the Sky. Though we mostly stayed within Tokyo and other cities up to this point we were informed that in actuality Japan in total is 68% mountain land. And to put that into better perspective, one-third of the total population in Japan lives in Tokyo!
Our day started off with an early departure for a two-hour drive to the Maglev Exhibition Center in Yamanashi Prefecture. The center explains the history and future aspirations for the use of magnetically levitated trains, along with frequent tests of the train that can be seen from the viewing areas. It contains the world’s fastest train speeding up to 360 miles per hour. The center had two additional floors with live demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and a miniature replica of the entire surrounding town-area.
From there we stopped at a local market for lunch that had fresh produce, made-to-order food, and several handcrafted items. Upon entering the store there was a gift shop section filled with keychains, tote bags, and Mount Fuji ties. The general and lively ambiance of the market couldn’t be more inviting with its tasty snacks.
After lunch we continue the movie, its musical sequence and climax lining up perfectly with when we first spotted Mount Fuji. The magical scene caught us in awe as it felt like the mountain itself was following us through the towns, rivers, and forests. As the movie played in the background, its poignant music and raw feelings filtered through our perspective of the mountain land that we were driving through. We soon arrived at the village that had a market with a surplus of items and services, ranging from jewelry, souvenirs, food, and a store that would let you try on a kimono with a parasol for a period of time. The sights, both of Mount Fuji and the village, were astounding and unique in their own way with the towering mountain setting the scene to promptly explore the village.
Then we took the bullet train back to our hotel for a quick recharge before we headed to dinner. The bullet train is the fastest type of travel technology in the world, with trains reaching speeds of up to 375 mph (603 km/h). These trains are known for their comfort, safety, speed, and punctuality, as well as many other things. When boarding and exiting the train, you only have about two minutes before the train takes off to its next stop so you have to move quickly! We took the Shinkansen, which can reach up to 200 mph (320km/h). Once on the train, we all took our seats and immediately could tell how much smoother the ride was.
Once off the train we were off to dinner, which we had at Junkai Kaku Honkan in Yokohama Chinatown. The seamless red and yellow color scheme was brought together by the soft yellow light tied together a welcoming environment. We were seated at three different round tables with a spin able-center for our dishes and served a delicious meal. First was the egg drop soup served in a giant bowl. Then was the chicken that was left to crumbs by the time everyone was finished eating. The salad was plentiful and refreshing. And last of all, the mango pudding in all its sweet goodness. Least to say, for the commute back we felt full and ready to hit the bed.