Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Area

We recently hopped on a space-available flight to Yokota Air Force Base near Tokyo.  We got 2 nights there before hopping on another flight to Singapore (which I can post later if nobody minds a review of Singapore on this Japan blog).  While in Tokyo area, we first decided we had to get as close as we could to Mt. Fuji since it is was only around an hour away.  The drive seems quick on a clear day because you can see the mountain nearly the entire way...

 We actually researched the best places to view Mt. Fuji, and the #1 spot was at Lake Kawaguchi.  So there is where we went.  Here is a view from a parking area on the far side of the lake...

And walking down towards the water...

The lake was so cold it was frozen around the edges.  Though the ducks didn't seem to mind it...

What a beautiful escape we enjoyed until our toes were numb.  Here we are...

We also drove back towards the mountain hoping to get near the 5th station, the highest point cars can go.  Unfortunately, the road was covered in deep snow just part way up.  We did go as far as we could...

Then decided to make some snow angels...

Later I was hoping to "see the lights" in downtown Tokyo, but it was going to be a bit difficult with the kids, so we were told by the locals at Yokota go to this nearby place called Tachikawa instead...

We drove there and basically straight through, so it looked like a fun mall and hang-out type place, but really can't give an accurate review.

Definitely a fun trip to Tokyo area.  Hopefully in the not-so-distant future I will have the opportunity to do a post on THE downtown Tokyo sometime while we are hear.