Waking up sick, they climb a pagoda in Kawaguchiko and are stunned by a clear view of Mount Fuji.
The episode is a solo narrative where the host shares experiences from their sixth trip to Japan. It begins with pre-travel preparations, highlighting a major issue: their Japan visa was set to expire on November 8th, just before their arrival on November 9th. After panic and failed online attempts, they resolve it by visiting the embassy to void and reapply. Another crisis arises when Garuda Indonesia cancels their return flight from Tokyo to Jakarta, leading to a reschedule to JAL. This introduces a new problem: a name error on the ticket involving misplaced first, middle, and last names, requiring extensive calls to Garuda, Traveloka, and JAL over a week before resolution. The host notes they remained healthy throughout, unlike past trips. The narrative shifts to the trip itself, focusing on a visit to Fuji Kawaguchiko. They stay two nights despite a friend's warning about potential poor visibility of Mount Fuji. The first day is rainy with no view, but on the second day, they wake up early, climb to a pagoda, and are rewarded with a clear, stunning view of Mount Fuji, which they photograph extensively. They express gratitude and discuss Japanese respect for the mountain. Next, they travel to Kyoto via Shinkansen, navigating new luggage rules and realizing suitcases under 250 cm don't require extra booking. In Kyoto, they visit Nara, Uji, Osaka, and Arashiyama, renting a kimono for a new experience. They return to Tokyo for shopping in areas like Ginza and Shibuya, accompanying a friend on a watch hunt. The host reflects on feeling unusually tired during this trip, attributing it to work stress before and during the journey. They mention a personal crisis where they cried after calling their sister. In closing, they express a desire to visit Japan again but consider taking a break due to rising costs, such as increased accommodation taxes in Kyoto and potential higher flight prices, while imagining future itineraries to regions like Kyushu.
