Welcome to Japan

Hotel Mystays Onsen Resort

Today we woke up for the first time in a Japanese hotel. I am very satisfied with the hotel. After waking up, I opened the curtains and could already see the entire Fuji-Q Highland Park. Unfortunately, Mount Fuji was heavily covered by clouds on this day. Otherwise, you could have seen it rising behind the park. As you can only see Mount Fuji on average for 30 days a year, the world-famous view usually remains unseen. You can either relax in the hotel onsen first or go directly to the amusement park. The decision was very easy for me because unfortunately, the hotel does not allow guests with tattoos in their wellness area even after consulting the reception. However, this is common in Japan, so it cannot be seen as a shortcoming. According to my travel companion, the onsen area is made of marble plates and has a warm indoor pool and an outdoor pool with a great view.

Fuji-Q Highland Park

Fuji-Q Highland Park is the most amazing amusement park I have ever seen. There are two different types of tickets available at the entrance: one with rides for 5,700 yen and one without rides for 1,300 yen. A big ride costs 1,000 yen, a smaller one costs 600 yen, and access to the special exhibition, which changes every three months, costs 500 yen. The waiting time for a big ride is about 70 minutes (on weekdays), but the wait is definitely worth it. After a long time, I finally found my adrenaline again. The rides don't just turn in one direction like they do in our parks, but in all imaginable directions.

The amusement park offers a large part of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' theme for children. For their 20th anniversary, this area was decorated especially festive.

The special exhibition about the anime 'Evangelion' impressed me the most. It really showed the Japanese attention to detail. Whether it's 6-meter-high statues or a miniature version of the command headquarters, everything fit perfectly.

Even lunch is still a ramen dish. 1,090 yen for a double-decker burger with fries and a drink.

Travel Fuji -> Kyoto

The train ride from Otsuki to Fujikyu Highland costs an additional 1,090 yen or 1,290 yen for an express train. Especially for longer journeys, it is important to stick to your schedule since relatively few long-distance trains are included in the JP Rail Pass. To pass the long travel times, you can either enjoy the beautiful scenery or comfortably lean back in your seat and doze off.