Just near Mt. Fuji, Staying in freezing winter in Yamanashi Prefecture.

 Live with a beautiful mountain is a huge experience for many people, especially if it is world heritage. In the cold winter of mid February 2018, I made a two-week trip and stayed Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県), near Mt. Fuji, at 3,776m, the highest mountain in Japan.

 Everyday was another cold day, and person like me who lives in Tokyo couldn't believe how cold it was. Just less than two hours ride on bus, Yamanashi Prefecture is almost a  whole different country with low temperature in the nights (in an average of minus 12 degrees Celsius). In my life with many traveling to countries, I had never been such a freezing place.

 Thankfully, the weather had been good during my stay, and I could see the mountain wherever I was. It was not only high, indeed it was massive, and I wasn't sick of it at all ;)

 Sometimes I took a walk around a beautiful lake in my neighbour Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖). It's one of Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖), spreading around the north of the mountain. There was a pathway along the shore with some wooden bench. It must be nice place to read a book it it wasn't so cold, haha.

 Thanks to the mountain being nominated to the world heritage in 2013, many tourists began to come, and top-notch cafes and restaurants as well as accommodations are widely available. I visited one of fine cafes near the lake, felt like being home :)

 I believe it was a bank of some sort....

 Also, I drove to other lake, which was Lake Yamanaka (山中湖). Due to its altitude of 980m, there was covered with thick ice in the north. I could walk on the iced surface a bit (I have no courage to go further, you know!)

 Beautiful mountain covered with snow on top, mirror like lakes....Yamanashi Prefecture is a great place to go, if you can cope with its cold!

A half day hike to Mt. Takao.

 Located in a suburb of Tokyo, Mt. Takao is the most famous destination for a-half-day-hike in Tokyo. Personally, I like climbing up on this 599 metres mountain because of its casual and convenient access from cities like Shinjuku and Tokyo Station. Getting on the train Chuo-line, and all you have to do it just sitting until it brings to the nearest station Takao.

 In one afternoon of August 2016, I visited there. So... why don't we take a look at photos of scenery? :)

 The clock just hit 13 o'clock when I arrived at the station. Indeed, it was a hot summer weather, and I got off the train, I felt as if I walked into a jungle-type-climate. High temperature with extremely humidity, it was truly a summer day of Japan.

 The panel in front of the station shows seven trails leading on the top. Either way, it takes several hours to get through to the top. Trail one is the most popular one, which is 3.8km length, mostly paved, hence it's not that hard for first-timer. As a second-timer, I decided Inariyama Trail, with 3.1km, which many people say the hardest trail. Is that true? Well. let's find out :)

Well well well...It was actually tough XD. I found how hard walking on a unpaved trail!

 This was the final steps toward the top of the mountain....And...

  Here we are :) 

 Fortunately, not so many people gathered at that time, and I unpacked my lunch box, bought a glass of beer for $8. I have to admit that I'm not a person drinking alcohol so publicly. But the flux of accomplishment in my mind drove me to a kiosk nearby, haha. There were many foods available on the top of the mountain: from icy cold cucumber, sweet rice cake and stuff. It cost higher than the average price in cities, but that's the way it is on mountains :)

 Well, it's time to go back :D This time I took Trail one.

 It looks things are much more exotic on Trail one, attracted me so much. Well, I believe I'll be back to Mount Takao in Autumn as well :)