Editor’s Note: Jack Talos reached out to Slamwrestling.net and informed us he will be doing a tour for the All-Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. Per Talos’ request, certain names have been changed to protect their anonymity. Plus, who are we to argue with a seven-foot giant?
After a week off, where Talos was part of the NWA 77 signature live event in Huntington, NY (which will be on a future episode of NWA POWERRR on The Roku Channel), here is another excerpt of his recent adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun.
By Jack Talos – For Slam! Wrestling
Day 58: A Pirate’s Path to Mt. Fuji
When you travel across Japan, sooner or later, your path leads to its most iconic landmark: Mount Fuji. For me, that day finally arrived, and I decided to do something I rarely do—take the tourist route.
The morning began at Shibuya Station at 8 a.m., where I joined a group tour bus headed out of Tokyo. The city slowly fell away, replaced by winding roads through lush forests and mountain ridges. Ninety minutes later, our first stop came into view: Hakone Shrine.
Tucked along the shores of Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine is ancient yet meticulously preserved. Stone staircases cut their way up and down the hillside, leading to small buildings where offerings are still made. Clear spring water bubbled into fountains, cold and clean as glass. But two sights stayed with me most—the massive Torii Gate rising out of the lake, red against the grey mist, and the nearby dojos, where bows and wooden swords leaned against walls. Passing by, it wasn’t hard to imagine the fierce, disciplined training that must go on inside.
From there, our trip took a more whimsical turn. At Motohako Port, we boarded a ship styled like a pirate vessel and sailed across Lake Ashi. Rain began to fall lightly, cloaking the lake in mist, but the atmosphere only grew richer. Passengers crowded the decks, snapping photos of the other “pirate ships” drifting through the fog.
At the opposite port, the bus gave way to the Hakone Ropeway, a cable car system that lifted us high above the valleys. The view was extraordinary: smoking volcanic vents, sprawling forests, and the lake far below. By the time we reached Owakudani Station, the air was thick with the sulfur smell of active volcanic ground. Vents hissed steam, and the shops here sold their local curiosity: the famous black eggs, boiled in the mineral-rich waters. Legend claims each one adds seven years to your life. I cracked one open, and while it tasted like any other egg, I wasn’t about to turn down the chance at a longer career.
Lunch was followed at a small restaurant in a neighboring town. The meal was simple—chicken or beef with rice and pickled cabbage—but the highlight was the beer brewed with Fuji water. Crisp, refreshing, and perfectly balanced, it cut through the salt of my fried chicken like it was made for that very moment.
The day’s next stop was Shiratorihama Beach on Lake Yamanaka, famous for its swan-shaped paddle boats and unbeatable views of Fuji. Unfortunately, the weather had shifted. The mountain hid behind a heavy blanket of clouds, and the lake churned too roughly for boats. We admired the swans and pushed forward to our last destination.
That destination was Oshino Village, a World Heritage site that feels untouched by time. Traditional wooden homes lined narrow pathways. Street vendors cooked fresh skewers over open flames. And at its heart, the famous Eight Springs of Mt. Fuji shimmered with clarity. The main pond glowed an almost unreal shade of blue, koi swimming lazily through the depths. Visitors circled its edge, refilling bottles from spouts of the pure mountain water. I grabbed a snack, a coffee, and soaked in the scene—tourists, locals, the hum of voices, and the quiet flow of water beneath it all.
By evening, it was time to return to Tokyo. We boarded the bus one final time, watching the countryside fade into neon lights. Though Mt. Fuji itself never revealed its peak, the day offered more than I expected: shrines by the lake, pirate ships in the mist, sulfur vents in the mountains, and water that’s been flowing from Fuji for centuries.
And let’s be honest—sailing a pirate ship across Lake Ashi feels like a victory in itself.
But…does this make me king of the pirates now?!
