On next morning it was a sunny day with Mt Fuji showing up over  Kawaguchi-ko  :))

 

 

Arakurayama Sengen Park (新倉山浅間公園)

Checked out hotel after quick early breakfast and drove to parking lot. As it was a Saturday the closest parking lot at base was full (at 8am+) and were told to park in another lot (about 2km away) and change free shuttle bus (or on foot).

Despite long (but orderly) line for shuttle bus we finally arrived at the Sengen Park (after climbing almost 400 stairs) at 9am+.  Ultimately, our efforts were rewarded with sakura in full bloom, with blue sky and Mt Fuji as backdrop. 

 

 

Chureito Pagoda

Had to line up for 75 min but worthy – sakura in full blossom + Mt Fuji + blue sky

 

 

Kawaguchi-ko

Back to the photogenic spot for Mt Fuji over Kawaguchi-ko. Sakura was around 10-30%  along the northern lake rim wheras those along the food stalls were around 50-70%.  Overall, it was much better than 2 years ago and we were grateful 🙂

 

 

After lunch, returned car in Otsuki and took JR express train back to Shinjuku in 1 hour.

Had dinner in one of our fav izakayas and most fav sake. Stayed in Tokyo for the next 3 nights.

 

 

 

===>   Akagi  Senbon zakura   ===>