Fujiyoshida, the little town at the foot of the volcano

We landed in the evening in Tokyo, after having taken the train from Brussels to Paris Charles De Gaulle, then the plane of Air France. A total of almost 15 hours of travel.

We had to wait for a colleague of Nico’s who arrived from Hong-Kong 2 hours after us in order to go down to Mount Fuji.
While waiting for his arrival, we had a sushi platter, what a delight, what a freshness! Although I had already eaten some, I had the impression to discover sushi for the first time.
His colleague arrived, we drove down to Mount Fuji where is the project on which my companion is going to work, a new attraction that must be set up for July 1st in the theme park. About 2 hours of road, we struggled not to fall asleep!

The hotel is almost in the park. It’s a rather classy spring and spa complex where the FujiYama Onsen, a hot spring spa coming from the volcano, is located. We will stay there for 2 weeks.

The night was quite complicated, we could not find sleep easily. But in the morning, when we opened the curtains, our view was dazzled by the imposing sight of the sacred mountain! This gave us all the energy we needed to start the day.

Nico left for work in the morning. As for me, I put on my walking shoes and I went to do some scouting. After 3 km of walking, I change direction in search of the viewpoint in height of the city.

Fujiyoshida, this town loaded with multiple deep-rooted Mount Fuji beliefs.
Located in Yamanashi Prefecture, in the Five Lakes Region, is a bridge between Tokyo and Mount Fuji. Known for its five-story Chureito pagoda and Fuji-Q Highland thrill park, this city is also home to several shrines dedicated to the sacred mountain. It was built on ancient lava flows. Fujiyoshida extends to the base of the volcano on the northeast flank. It leads to the Yoshida trail which allows the ascent of Fuji-san.

I forked to go to the Arakurayama Fuji Sengen shrine to find the pagoda at 4 km from my location. On the way, I came across Nyoraiji temple, dating from at least 1200 AD converted to Shinto around this date on the ruins of an old temple. We find a rather recent cemetery in its surroundings.

During this walk, I discover the charm of the countryside and its Japanese houses with a sublime background worthy of a postcard.

I arrived at the foot of the mountain, at the entrance of Arakurayama Sengen park. I walk up the “Sakuya-hime stairs”, named after the goddess of Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine. Nearly 400 steps lead to a viewpoint of the Chureito Pagoda built in 1963, erected as a peace memorial.

I’m still in Japan! It’s crazy, everything I’ve been through lately has brought me to this point in my history, in my travels. Finally, I don’t know if it’s the place or just me, but I just want to keep going like this for the rest of my life. Every step I take here or in my life, I always want to have discoveries to make, both the magical places throughout history and the world, as well as the people I can talk to who come from other horizons than mine. For me, this is the essence of life, or my life at least.

On the way, just after the gate, a “Torii”, I arrive at the Shiogama Shrine where there is a sacred dragon.

Despite the fatigue of walking, jet lag, climbing those stairs, I keep climbing those stairs!

I am still in Japan! It’s crazy, everything I’ve been through lately, has brought me to this point in my history, in my travels, finally, I don’t know if it’s the place or just me but I just want to continue like this until the end of my days. Every step I take here or in my life, I always want to have discoveries to make, as much the magical places throughout history and the world, as the people I can talk to who come from other horizons than mine. For me it is the essence of life, or my life at least.

On the way, just after the gate, a “Torii”, I arrive at the Shiogama Shrine where there is a sacred dragon.

When I arrived at the pagoda, the volcano was shy behind the clouds. I stayed there for a long time, moved by this view that I only knew in pictures, I ended up continuing and climbing higher and higher, until I told myself that I still have to go back!

I sat down, opened my mind to capture all the surrounding energy, I chatted as best I could with an old Japanese man who goes up every day to take pictures of Mount Fuji.
After more than an hour and a half on the spot, I had to take the road back to join my companion who finished his day.
In the end, 12 km in the legs, magical images, a quietude out of the ordinary for me and some sunshine, I come back to the hotel to have dinner in the Japanese restaurant of the hotel.

Ninve,

Some pictures of Nyoraiji temple