Today we are back in the UK having arrived on Thursday afternoon. However, due to an issue with the blog, i was unable to post this while we were still away!

So yesterday was the last full day on the ship. We had sailed for a full day and 2 nights to make it from Northern Japan to Shimizu which is actually slightly south of our final destination, but within sight of Mt Fuji.

The sailing day has been very stormy -rough seas and unrelenting rain but the new day dawned bright if a little cloudy but at least the forecast was good.

An early 06.30 breakfast and then onto our booked tour. The coach trip was 1.5 hours passing green tea fields and the very occasional glimpse of bits of Fujii peeping through the clouds. We arrived at Lake Ashi where we were to board a modern Japanese styled pirate ship (!) for a trip along and across the lake. About 30 minutes but by this time the cloud had cleared and we had clear stunning views of Fuji.

From our landing point a short coach ride to a cable car (ropeway,, gondola - take your choice) where we went up to 1365m and now with stunning views of Mt Fuji. The top part is still pretty well covered in snow and the view was awesome. Many photos were taken and I will try and put some up when I have more time and better wifi!

Then back down and a return journey to the ship pausing only for a stop at a motorway service station where there seemed to be a need by many people (not including us) to visit the 7/11 convenience store!!

And then to our last afternoon in the sun in port. A bit of a firework display marked out departure and we sailed back to our start point of Yokohama where we docked at 07.00. There is now a mass rush to leave the ship but, as we are in no real rush, we are sitting watching the scrum to leave!

We are then going to take the train back to Tokyo for one last night before flying back on Thursday.

With love
A&L xxx