At the foot of Mount Fuji: Zoos, outlets, and blueberry farms without Mount Fuji
I've shared two nights of fireworks displays, but this trip to Japan was actually six days and five nights, and there were other noteworthy places besides the fireworks. In my previous post, I mentioned a three-day, two-night road trip. We left Atami the day after the fireworks festival, originally planning to go back to the Fuji World Heritage Center in Shizuoka Prefecture, Fujinomiya City, to photograph the inverted view of Fuji; or to Fujiyoshida Honmachi Street to see the Showa-era view of Mount Fuji; or even to see the sunrise over Mount Fuji at Arakurayama Sengen Park. These plans were completely impossible during these few days, mainly because the clouds and fog blocked the view of Mount Fuji, preventing the children from appreciating it.
We didn't waste some of our planned "backup attractions." On the morning we left Atami, we drove to the Fuji Safari Park. The zoo itself uses the view of Mount Fuji as one of its selling points. Besides taking the official jungle bus to feed the animals through wire mesh, you can also drive in yourself or hire a jeep. The latter allows you to experience off-road driving and get closer to the animals in some areas. I had actually visited the Kyushu Zoo before COVID-19, and the experience was largely the same, except that you could drive into the wildlife enclosures and observe the animals through your car windows.
The zoo is divided into several zones, separated by double electric fences to keep different species separate. Near the entrance are the more aggressive animals: first the bear enclosure, then the lion, tiger, and cheetah enclosures. There were over ten lions and tigers each, which was quite a lot, but they were mostly sunbathing and not very active; I didn't see many cheetahs. Passing through the more predatory enclosures, we arrived at a more open space next door, where we saw more docile herbivores typically found on the African savanna, such as giraffes, elephants, zebras, and antelopes. Some antelopes even approached the cars, making them the most friendly of the group.
There wasn't much of a time limit for driving in; we stopped and took pictures for about 45 minutes, then parked, browsed the zoo's shops, and bought some snacks from the food truck for lunch. We didn't spend much time at the ranch and botanical village; after noon, we drove to Gotemba.
Looking back, staying in Gotemba was a good decision. We originally planned to go to Fujiyoshida, but changed our hotel to Gotemba just before leaving for Japan. Firstly, it was good value for money, offering the same view of Mount Fuji, and secondly, it was close to the outlet mall, so even in bad weather, we could pass the time shopping. Gotemba Outlet Mall has a long history and is the largest in Japan (the parking lots are so numerous they can make you lose your way), but after the expansion of Kisarazu Outlet Mall, the latter has the most shops. I won't go into the shopping experience here, but I didn't expect to need an umbrella in the heavy rain.
Our hotel, Edit x Seven, is a stylish hotel, somewhat similar in style to RAKUTEN STAY ATAMI, where we stayed the previous night, and even newer (it only opened in 2025). If RAKUTEN has a touch of Southeast Asian and Thai influence, Edit x Seven leans towards a European camping style. It also had a large terrace, but its concrete construction lacked the resort atmosphere of RAKUTEN. However, it still had small tables and chairs, as well as outdoor chairs, and even the first-floor bathroom offered a view of Mount Fuji, which should have been quite idyllic. Unfortunately, all we saw at the moment was fog, which was a bit of a shame.
For dinner, we went to "Mugihata," a restaurant next to the Gotemba Kogen Hotel, for a buffet dinner for the kids. For the price, the quality was just average. Next door was the GKB (Gotemba Kogen Beer) beer garden, which also offered a buffet with different kinds of beer, but since we were driving back that night, I didn't try much myself. On the other hand, the breakfast at Edit x Seven on Sunday morning was a pleasant surprise, offering an à la carte menu with decent quality salads, eggs, and bread.
In the morning, we did one last shopping trip at the outlet mall, and before noon, taking advantage of the still-good weather, we decided to go blueberry picking at Harucoco Farm near Lake Yamanaka. Actually, I really wanted to pick peaches, but driving to Fuefuki City and Koshu City in Yamanashi Prefecture would be a long detour, and the weather is unpredictable, posing some risks. Lake Yamanaka, on the other hand, has highland blueberries, about a half-hour drive from Gotemba, and it's more convenient to return to Tokyo.
The blueberry picking area at Harucoco Farm wasn't very large. We parked at the far end of the blueberry grove, and it was about 30-40 meters to the reception area, roughly the size of a one-third to a quarter of a football field. There were probably around a thousand blueberry bushes. The farm manager was very helpful, explaining everything using a mobile phone translator. Our family of four paid an average of 2,000 yen per person, which included unlimited picking and eating, plus a small box to take home—about the size of a small square box from a supermarket. The manager also carefully shared picking tips, advising us to pick only the tops of the blueberries, as any slightly purplish-red ones might be quite sour.
The farmland was fairly well-maintained, and the occasional insects (mainly spiders) on the trees were understandable and didn't hinder picking. Most of the blueberries on the trees were ripe; a box could be filled in about 10 minutes if you were quick. After picking, you could enjoy your harvest at the designated picnic area, which provided tables, chairs, and cold water. Personally, I'm not a big fan of blueberries, and I felt the taste was quite similar to the South American blueberries I bought in Hong Kong, but thankfully, they were mostly sweet.
After the first round of picking, it started to rain. The person in charge thoughtfully brought umbrellas, and we picked while using them. Later, the rain intensified, and there were occasional gusts of wind. After filling our second round, we decided to turn back and take our hand-picked blueberries back to Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, we drove back to Tokyo. The highway service areas (SA) along the way are worth mentioning; they've now developed into bustling mini-shopping malls. On our way there, we passed through Ebina SA on the Tomei Expressway, and it was almost full of cars before noon. There are many shops inside, some even offering limited-edition Ebina SA items. For example, Calbee has Ebina-exclusive tempura and freshly fried potato chips. Tokyo BANANA's ice cream and grilled squid are quite good; it's worth a visit if you're driving. On the way back, we had a late lunch at Kanagasaka SA. The food court mainly serves ramen, udon, and curry rice, and the food was quite good. A 500 yen cappuccino from STARBUCK is a real bargain. Don't forget to browse the souvenir shops here; many of our souvenirs came from here.