Fuji Gazing

This Sunday is Culture Day in Japan – an occasion on which the emperor traditionally grants special honors to people that have made extraordinary contributions to the country in some sort or fashion. I for one am not sure how one is supposed to commemorate Culture Day, but I do know that it means we get Monday off. Hence, this weekend’s getaway spot is Kawaguchiko, one of the five lakes surrounding Mount Fuji. Even though the weather is not as stable at this time of the year, the colored leaves make for a perfect scenery right now.

We booked two nights in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese guesthouse with tatami mats and all, which turned out to be a great find. Our hosts were kind enough to drive us out to the other side of the lake as early as 6am, just so we could make it to the viewing spot in time for sunrise!

After watching Fuji-san unfold in all its glory, these people even took us for breakfast and also dropped us at yet another scenic spot – the Chureito Pagoda, seen on the top of this post.

No matter where you go in this area though, Fuji’s perfectly shaped cone and snowy top always stand out. During next year’s hiking season, I definitely wanna return to make the ascent. Until then, these autumn views will have to do.