I woke up early this morning. It was bright outside and looked promising. Armed with my camera, I hurried outside towards the end of the corridor. A perfect conical Fujisan glowed in the dawn sun. It was a perfectly clear day. I could see the mountain huts and three trails – Subashri, Gotemba and Fujinomiya treks scratched on the slopes. It was a beautiful sight. The lush green forest in the foreground accentuated the view. I was mesmerised by the phenomenal mountain. Although I had earlier climbed to the summit, looking from here gave me a different perspective- one of awe, impermanence and beauty. You cannot see a mountain when you are on it. As the sun rose, the colours changed with it. From reddish to hazy brown and the sky pale blue. A golf course nearby the hotel was still in darkness.

The previous day’s rain seemed to have created a sharp image of the green pine forest and the blue Lake Ashi. The air was fresh but chilly. It was a promising day to venture other parts of Hakone. We made arrangements at the hotel via a luggage transfer service to deliver our luggage to Hakone Yumoto train station. From here we walked to the pier and caught the Hakone Ropeway to Ōwakudani. Hakone is a popular tourist site, not only for views of Fuji but renown for natural hot springs and spas. It is after all a volcanic area. It lies within the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park.

“….the magnificent Mt Fuji was red like Mars, towering in the distant” – Navindd