水曜日, 6月 16th, 2010...8:40 AM

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

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Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)
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Continuing with our journey, driving across the plateau which spreads out to the west of Mt. Fuji, I headed south. Twenty minutes of driving brought me to the Shiraito (lit. white thread) Waterfalls. As the word implies, the water looks like white, silky thread as it falls.

After parking the car in the parking lot, heading to your destination will first take you to the Otodome Waterfall, on the left hand side.

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

The weather was amazing, and luckily, I was able to see a rainbow

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

The thawed snow from Mount Fuji forms the waterfalls, which pushes through a tremendous amount of water.

After walking down the path for another ten minutes or so, you will come to the Shiraito Waterfalls. Over one hundred large and small waterfalls make up this grand view, with the water supplied by Mt. Fuji’s underflow water. This area has become a national treasure and natural heritage site.

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Countless waterfalls constantly flowing down from the high precipices

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

The waterfalls are up for selection for Japan’s top one hundred waterfalls ranking

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

The water is exceptionally clear

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Capturing the new greenery and the waterfalls together

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Tourists and more

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

From time to time there are wells of water

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

At the souvenir store you can purchase fresh wasabi, Japanese horseradish. It is only possible to grow wasabi in clean water, so the tastier the wasabi, the cleaner the water.

Leaving the calm pastures and rich nature behind, the last destination, Fujinomiya, awaits. Fujinomiya is a city built around the Mount Fuji headquarters Asama Shrine.

This shrine is headquarters for all the Asama shrines around the country. Its characteristic atmosphere is brought out by the overall light pink colour.

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

The main shrine is a designated important cultural property.

In between the main shrine and Wakutama Lake is the Mizuya Shrine, where it is possible to draw some of Mt. Fuji’s “holy water.” Along with local citizens, apparently people come all the way from Tokyo and other places just for this water.

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

It is a custom for people who intend to climb Fuji to perform a ritual using the water from this lake

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

This woman appears to be drawing water
It is said that the Wakutama Lake supplies thirty tonnes of water every day. It is essentially necessary to boil the water before drinking, but after trying some, it turned out to be delicious.

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

It has even become a natural monument

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

It has even become a natural monument

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

There are numerous varieties of fish living in the lake

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

For local children it is the ideal playground

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

A bridge which was built in 1930

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

White wisteria blossoms

Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part3)

There is quite a distance now between here and Mount Fuji

Today I introduced my day trip to the base of Mt. Fuji, an area rich with nature which cannot be experienced in Tokyo. The air is clean, and with summer coming, the weather is most likely to be favourable, making for the ultimate spot to drive too. Aside from cars, using highway buses and bullet trains will still allow for enough time to fully enjoy the surrounding areas. How would you like to stretch your feet and take a trip to the base of Mount Fuji?

Related posts:
Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part1)
Driving around the foot of Mount Fuji (Part2)
*Driving around the lake shores of Mount Fuji Part1
Driving around the lake shores of Mount Fuji Part2

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