fuji-san

A view of Mount Fuji from Lake Yamanakako, one of the Fuji Five Lakes surrounding the volcano. 

This icon of Japan is imprinted at the back of the 1000 yen note.

A lavender field at Oishi Park which had not reached its blooming peak season yet.

Fuji Yoshida Sengen Shrine is nestled among huge, tall cedar and pine trees. 

The red wooden torii gate is more than 18 metres. (Lucyriver for scale)

The Yoshida trail is the starting point (for men only) to climb Mount Fuji in the olden days, taking about two days. We were told that one brave lady challenged the rule, succeeded reaching the summit, descending and revealing herself, thus women are allowed from then on. 

A statue was erected beside the starting point to honour her.

Kawaguchiko Music Forest displays music boxes and other musical instruments. Beautiful roses in myriad shades adorned the fairy-like museum with the fuji-san as the backdrop.

In the afternoon, visited Saiko Iyashi-no-sato Nenba village to see the thatched-roof houses.

A comfort for not being able to make it to Shiragawa-go in Gifu.

 

A view of the village all the way to the entrance with the Mount Fuji in summer. 

A small sea of rapeseed flowers at the entrance of the village.

Koinobori are carp-shaped windsocks flown on Children Day on May 5th in Japan wishing good future for the children to grow up healthy and strong.

Kimono or yukata (summer wear) are Japanese traditional costume. They resemble robes wrapped around the body with the left side over the right and the other way round if you're dead. Then they are secured with a long sash just below the breasts. The obasan (older ladies) who dressed us up were skilled, fast and strong. We felt like wearing a corset though, hardly could breathe.

Too bad we didn't have more time, if not dressing up as the warriors looks fun too!