On October 16, the weather cleared up as we traveled to the top road and fifth station, at Mt. Fuji, that I had first visited with my friend Gérard Bouvier, back in October, 1972.
Colors were changing at the 8,000 feet level and after the usual picture taking, we continued to Hakone, and its popular hot-spring resorts, home to the Hakone National Park.
We took a 20 minute, quite forgetable gondola ride from Togendai to Owakundani surrounded by sulfurous fumes as one would see around Yellowstone National Park.
Most of the area is still an active volcanic zone and through the cloudes we could catch a few good views of Mount Fuji.