Ascending Mt. Fuji (Day 1)

The view outside the bus window as we approach the 5th station.

“A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once, but only a fool does it twice.”

Most literature on reaching the highest point in Japan contains this anonymously-accredited saying. I didn’t understand how dead-on these words until I neared the top. Devoid of context, it’s not too helpful. Even with context, which I’ll try to illustrate over the next two posts, it’s not too helpful. To fully appreciate just how perfectly those words sum up the mountain, you have to make the climb yourself.

Ascending Fuji is an amazing, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that I have no intention of ever doing again.

Bugaku and the Imperial Palace

Ryō-ō — the Dragon King

While the capital and seat of the emperor was moved to Tokyo back in 1869, the Kyoto palace is still maintained mostly for historic and ceremonial purposes. Like any park, the surrounding grounds seem to mostly be used for picnics, baseball, and tennis. I’ll sometimes go running around there.