What can I advise other travelers to do in the Yamanashi prefecture? Well, I know what to advise them not to do. Shosenkyo Gorge was a very large disappointment. Before arriving, I had read that it is considered Japan’s greatest gorge. Perhaps with the autumn leaves in full swing the gorge could provide some nice views. Regardless, the gorge is not worth going out of your way for. It is only about 4 km long. It has two nice waterfalls and a path you can walk along. If you have been to Taroko Gorge in Taiwan or really any other gorge for that matter, don’t make this trip!
Don’t get me wrong, it is a very nice area. Yamanashi is famous for its mountains and fruit. We have had a wonderful time with our hosts and can’t say enough wonderful things about them! I just strongly suggest spending extra time around Mt. Fuji opposed to Shosenkyo Gorge.
The next day was much better. The rain cleared up and we had crystal clear views of Mt. Fuji. It is one of those mountains that you hear so much about and see depicted in ancient artwork that seeing it with your own eyes feels surreal. There were some clouds in the sky and we were feeling a bit worried that we weren’t going to be able to see it. Suddenly, my Dutch friend Tim called out, “LEFT!” Sure enough, behind the car to the left were the gradually inclining slopes of Mt. Fuji. It is so prominent with nothing but green trees leading up to it. This solidarity gives it the feeling of being a strong and wise old man. It is in places like this that I wish the mountain itself could speak to tell us all that it has seen. We happened to be in good fortune, because only a few hours previously had been the first snow fall of the season. The cone of the mountain was lightly dusted, while the slopes retained their dark gray ash color. Fuji surpassed my expectations and made for a very special experience.
We spent several hours driving around the five lakes (Lake Motosu, Lake Shojin, Lake Sai, Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka) at the mountain’s base. In Fuji-Yoshida's tourist center, we were able to get a map of the region with the 36 famous viewpoints highlighted. The most pristine lake is Lake Sai or Saiko. There were many fishermen enjoying the clear day out in the lake. I put my hand in the clear water and was shocked by how warm and clean it was. I understand why this is such a popular weekend getaway for Tokyo-ites. We stopped at a little café on Saiko and slurped the area’s famous Udon noodles. In addition to taking in the stunning nature around the mountain, we also stopped at the Ice Cave and the Lava Cave. It took longer to put on the boots and helmets than to walk through the caves. I would add these to the category of Shosenkyo Gorge- Skip them! I personally found the Ice Cave humorous because it didn’t have any ice. I guess the only time of year where it really is anything worth seeing is in the spring. The other stop we made was the Aokigahara Jukai or the Sea of Trees (Hanging Forest or Suicide Forest). It is famous for its lack of animal life and for being eerily quiet. Its more depressing claim to fame is that it is the site for hundreds of suicides over the last few decades. Every year since 1970 the government sends in body searches. In 2004 alone, 108 people were found in the forest. There are even signs offering people emotional help if they call the number provided. We did not go in the forest for this reason obviously, but went in search of a nice hiking trail another traveler told us about.
We were fortunate to spend yet another night with Mizuki and her family. Her brother is currently in training to be a firefighter and arrived home with his new gear. He was very excited and it was nice to see him so happy. Her father told us about his childhood friend and how his friend has a prominent role in the “family” business. I really like Mizuki’s father and think he is so funny. She told us her friends think he looks like Tupac. He totally does! Thus, we have solved the mystery of Tupac’s death/disappearance. He just came to Japan and pretended to be a Japanese family man. Another great day of great views and great people.
Don’t get me wrong, it is a very nice area. Yamanashi is famous for its mountains and fruit. We have had a wonderful time with our hosts and can’t say enough wonderful things about them! I just strongly suggest spending extra time around Mt. Fuji opposed to Shosenkyo Gorge.
The next day was much better. The rain cleared up and we had crystal clear views of Mt. Fuji. It is one of those mountains that you hear so much about and see depicted in ancient artwork that seeing it with your own eyes feels surreal. There were some clouds in the sky and we were feeling a bit worried that we weren’t going to be able to see it. Suddenly, my Dutch friend Tim called out, “LEFT!” Sure enough, behind the car to the left were the gradually inclining slopes of Mt. Fuji. It is so prominent with nothing but green trees leading up to it. This solidarity gives it the feeling of being a strong and wise old man. It is in places like this that I wish the mountain itself could speak to tell us all that it has seen. We happened to be in good fortune, because only a few hours previously had been the first snow fall of the season. The cone of the mountain was lightly dusted, while the slopes retained their dark gray ash color. Fuji surpassed my expectations and made for a very special experience.
We spent several hours driving around the five lakes (Lake Motosu, Lake Shojin, Lake Sai, Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka) at the mountain’s base. In Fuji-Yoshida's tourist center, we were able to get a map of the region with the 36 famous viewpoints highlighted. The most pristine lake is Lake Sai or Saiko. There were many fishermen enjoying the clear day out in the lake. I put my hand in the clear water and was shocked by how warm and clean it was. I understand why this is such a popular weekend getaway for Tokyo-ites. We stopped at a little café on Saiko and slurped the area’s famous Udon noodles. In addition to taking in the stunning nature around the mountain, we also stopped at the Ice Cave and the Lava Cave. It took longer to put on the boots and helmets than to walk through the caves. I would add these to the category of Shosenkyo Gorge- Skip them! I personally found the Ice Cave humorous because it didn’t have any ice. I guess the only time of year where it really is anything worth seeing is in the spring. The other stop we made was the Aokigahara Jukai or the Sea of Trees (Hanging Forest or Suicide Forest). It is famous for its lack of animal life and for being eerily quiet. Its more depressing claim to fame is that it is the site for hundreds of suicides over the last few decades. Every year since 1970 the government sends in body searches. In 2004 alone, 108 people were found in the forest. There are even signs offering people emotional help if they call the number provided. We did not go in the forest for this reason obviously, but went in search of a nice hiking trail another traveler told us about.
We were fortunate to spend yet another night with Mizuki and her family. Her brother is currently in training to be a firefighter and arrived home with his new gear. He was very excited and it was nice to see him so happy. Her father told us about his childhood friend and how his friend has a prominent role in the “family” business. I really like Mizuki’s father and think he is so funny. She told us her friends think he looks like Tupac. He totally does! Thus, we have solved the mystery of Tupac’s death/disappearance. He just came to Japan and pretended to be a Japanese family man. Another great day of great views and great people.