after the fall

Nikko is also famous for its beautiful mountain scenery & hot springs. After exhausting our capacity for temples, we hastily jumped on a bus going up to Chuzenji-ju (Lake Chuzenji) Visibilty dropped with each of the 20 steep switchbacks till there really was nothing to see. Still, undetered and following the advise of a book that shall remain nameless, we jumped out a stop early to ride a cable car up to a view point and follow a 3 kilometer hike (which apparently does not exist) to the lake. It actually took us awhile to see the cable car building some 30 meters away from the bus stop. The cable car lady was unimpressed by our resolve and politely pointed us back in the direction of the bus stop. Where we waited some 30 minutes in the freezing rain and fog for a bus we were not sure would ever appear. Owain and Kerry huddled in doorway of a bathroom, while I stoically stood at the bus stop finding it impossible to believe no one would take pity on us and give us a lift up the mountain. In hindsight this is clearly something I should have documented. A bus finally appeared, and after being reprimanded for inconveniencing others with our dripping rain coats we were allowed on and carried up to the lake, where we lingered over ham and cheese sandwiches for hours in a small Vermont themed cafe. Yes again, clearly something I should have documented. Thus fortified we tramped over to the waterfall, took an elevator down to tunnels leading to viewing platform and admired the waterfall for an exceedingly long time, before heading back down the mountain.