Mount Fuji

11th April

Today I awoke to glorious sunshine, a blue cloudless sky, and a perfect view of Mount Fuji from my window!

I of course took countless shots of this stunning 3776 m high snowy volcano, from different angles, as I walked around the lake.

This one from outside my Hotel

and as I walked across the bridge, it felt almost dreamlike.......I really feel like I am living the dream!

These row of cherry blossoms were very pretty

I went up the cable car, which gave, from the top, a fantastic view of the lake and the mountain too and was only 1000 yen for a return ticket.

The views at the top were great and there were fantastic eagles circling around. They were beautiful - I think they were Golden Eagles. My phone camera wasn't good enough to pick them up. UPDATE: I believe they are Black Kites.

There were a lot of people arriving and there were the usual 'daft tourist' things like this 'swing with a view' whilst playing music, which I thought is very Japanese!

I have to say though, at this point, that the Japanese people, themselves, seem so lovely and friendly and polite and helpful in a humble warm way.

I headed up to a walkway through the pine trees, which went on for miles, but I just did a bit of it, enjoying the peace and quiet amongst the pine trees, away from all the people, with just the bird sounds and the wind.....

Then, back down and more walking around the lake

This statue was created by a sculptor who was over 100 years old!

I was taken by this cute little camper

and this little 'chuck wagon'

This wall was made from lava rock - presumably from the volcano - there were a lot of boulders around the lake.

and I noticed these 'bumps' or hills, as you look down the side of the mountain, and I wondered if they were lava 'blow' holes or vents.....

Whenever I'm close to a Volcano I always imagine it erupting.....the last time this one went was 1707. The dwelling place of God's. I guess they've had nothing to say for a while. 

There was a nice park, further round the lake and the blossom was being blown in the wind like snow

again, I'm not sure my phone really captures it........

Match tea - back in my room

and the actual view from my window - stunning!

The outside of the Hotel:

and some of the surrounding flats and houses

Japanese, imitation Coca Cola

and I still think it's weird that I got this book - the stories about people having kind of 'life changes' and all linked by this library and books that change their lives......translated from Japanese. I found it a little boring at first, but now I'm getting into it.

.....'so I wanna write my words on the face of today.' .............