Mount Fuji doesn't reveal itself easily. We stayed near the mountain for three days and the clouds only cleared enough to get a good shot for maybe two hours during that time. So, a lot of time was spent waiting, and walking around looking for an angle. But I think I got lucky three times as we circumnavigated the mountain. Even though we never once got to see more than the top of Fuji as it showed above the clouds, sometimes that's enough.
Another view of Mt. Fuji, taken looking over the rooftops of Iyashi no Sato, a traditional Japanese village. Actually, it's a restored village that mimics what a traditional Japanese village of the Edo period looked like. The original was destroyed by a mudslide caused by a typhoon in 1960. This village, though, is quite nice, albeit touristy. The rebuilt homes are homes and studios for a wide range of traditional Japanese artisans who do paper making, furniture building and ceramics.
It had been completely overcast since we've been in the environs of Mt. Fuji. It rained most of our first night in the vicinity and into themorning, but about 10 a.m. the overcast parted just enough for Mt. Fuji to show his brand new snow cover. When it was raining in the valley, it was snowing above. We walked just down the road 100 meters from where we are staying to get this shot of the brand new snow, the first of the season.
Mount Fuji, or “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration,” is how UNESCO describes Mount Fuji. It is indeed an inspiration.
Fuji can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo, or you can stay in a town at the foot of the mountain for a few days, as we did. If you do that, you'll have a better chance of actually seeing the mountain.
Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan. Click the link to see a list of the UNESCO sites, with links to ones we have visited.
The best way to get around Japan is with the Japan Rail Pass. Click the link for more info.
So very beautiful. Your patience certainly paid off!!
When we were just in Japan, we planned a trip around a lake specifically to get some images of Fujisan. Wouldn’t you know it, that’s the day it snowed! I love your image of Fuji and the rice harvest. Love it.
Thanks, Corinne. It snowed the day we went to Fuji, too. And cleared just a bit to reveal the new snow cap. Which is when I got this shot. https://travelpast50.com/mt-fuji-early-morning-snow-cover/ . The rest of the time we were there, we saw the mountain for about three hours over three days. Tough to get any shots.