If You Are Heading To Tokyo For The 2020 Olympics
If You Are Heading To Tokyo For The 2020 Olympics
Courtesy of Toyota, WOWSA, Five Lakes of Mount Fuji, Japan.“I lived in Japan for over 7 years and have visited the country at least 4 times each year since the mid-1990s,” said Steven Munatones. “I love it how this megalopolis of tens of millions just seems to work with people traveling by car, commuter trains, bullet trains, subways, monorails, ferries and walking politely in a very densely packed area.
I am excited to see how the Japanese host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games from July 24th to August 9th – and the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim on August 5th (women) and 6th (men). But for visitors and spectators who have never been to Japan, Tim Urban wrote a fun, insightful, easy-to-read summary of what he experienced during his visit to Japan.
Read here in his popular Wait But Why long-form blog.
While I believe Lake Yamanaka or Lake Kawaguchi would be ideal locations for the Olympic marathon swim, Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Bay is the choice of the IOC and FINA.
What Toyota is planning for the area around Mount Fuji is fascinating. The area has come a long way since Lynne Cox found her way to Mount Fuji on her ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ tour. Cox swam in 12 waterways around the world and in the course of her adventure became the first person to swim across the Five Lakes of Mount Fuji.
Those five famous lakes in Japan ring the majestic Mount Fuji, the largest mountain and active volcano in Japan at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet).
Cox swam across Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai, Lake Shoji, and Lake Motosu, five tranquil oases located 100 km south of Tokyo.
Steven Munatones said of the lakes, “Lake Yamanaka can be described as calmer than tranquil, quieter than serene. When you swim in any one of the five lakes [including Lake Sai, Lake Shoji, and Lake Motosu], you see the summit of Mount Fuji every time you take a breath. The beauty of the lakes and Mount Fuji is breathtaking. To add spice to the adventure, you can swim over lava tubes that shoot up colder water that penetrates the warm surface waters.
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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