Apparently it brings luck to see Mt Fuji.
Sightings are not a given. Fog, cloud, smog, rain. All get in the way. So if you do get to see it, you are already lucky.
Before I left Australia, I told people we were going to My Fuji. Partypoopers told me not to expect to see it, not to have my hopes up.
We visited the Mt Fuji World Heritage Centre. The building and it’s reflection imitates Fujisan.
Inside, you spiral up, learning about the mountain – it’s geology, importance, mythology.
Up to the viewing platform to see a view of ….
Nothing. It was raining. We saw nothing. The partypoopers were right. I won’t see it. It’s meant to rain all day. Well, I will just have to come back to Japan one day!
We walked to another shrine. And were lucky to see early cherry blossoms – if not cherry, then some sort of beautiful blossoms.
And we learnt how to cleanse prior to entering the shrine. I didn’t do it. COVID.
We were lucky to see a ceremony for a baby’s first visit to the shrine. Drums sounded by nuns in white. The big sister was beyond gorgeous.
We strolled around the beautiful gardens.
Then off to a fabulous lunch, served by the friendliest of owners. The hot pot was boiling in a paper bag with a flame below!
We went to another scenic spot – Nihondaira – but no luck. Fujisan would not show itself. It was overcast.
Oh well. I did get to smell daphne for the first time ever. And I always like garden art.
Such a disappointment, despite the wonders and fun and new sights of the day. I did see a mythical-looking, hazy Mt Fiji, almost the same colour as the smog and sky, from my Tokyo hotel room on my last visit to Japan. And we did catch a glimpse when we were driving from the airport to Tokyo when the sky was clear and sunny. Now, on the day we spent at lookout, Mt Fuji alluded is.
The sight of Mt. Fuji still never fails to thrill me. Our base housing during our last time in Japan had a window at the stair landing that gave us a view of it on clear days – we felt incredibly lucky to have that. In Tokyo there are so many places where it can be viewed; it would sort of pop out unexpectedly from time to time. But, being up close is the best.
We visited the Fuji Five Lake area with our family in 2019 – the mountain was completely obscured by clouds when we arrived but just before the sun went down the clouds cleared and we had a beautiful view. The next day was unexpectedly clear – a surprise – so we had fantastic views all day from a variety of venues. Then boom! The next day it was gone, replaced by rain and clouds.
I love your pictures! Is Japanese food ever not beautiful? And a fox statue! And the deference and appreciation of natural beauty, as seen in the moss on the roots of the tree.
The saying I’ve always heard is that if you see Mt. Fuji, you will return to Japan. We’ve seen it on every trip. I hope you can return one of the times we’re there so I can show you around.
I hope the saying comes true, Laura. I do want to go back. It must be true because I saw Mt Fuji from my hotel on the first trip. And I went back on this unexpected trip.
I’d love to walk around Tokyo with you.
I will keep you posted on when we’ll be there and hopefully we can get together!
Love the various cultural rituals and the way the food is displayed. So elegant.
Have seen Mt Fuji a couple of times, but only out of an airplane window.
Well, Mary, you’ll have to go back and see Mt Fuji up close!
Yes, the food is so elegantly presented.
Oh, the hankering I have to travel again after reading this!!! How lucky were you: one of the last set of open-access travellers to leave the country before Co-vid & compulsory hotel quarantine! Oh gosh…wonder when we’ll be able to travel again?
I was lucky on many counts.
I think there may be restricted travel next year, but I won’t be heading to the northern hemisphere in 2021.