Life in Japan: My Travels

I was asked where I’ve traveled to in Japan. Surprisingly little. I regret not doing more.

I Read Encyclopedias for Fun

I came to Japan to see it all. Did I? No, not at all.  But there are some things I am very happy to have seen.  This week’s question is from S. R. Carrillo. She asked many questions, didn’t she?

Where all have you traveled?

Odawara Castle in the rain with a couple cosplayers in front.

Surprisingly, I haven’t traveled very much in Japan. I live in Kanagawa, which is just south of Tokyo. I’ve also been to Tokyo, of course. The other prefectures I’ve been to are Saitama, Chiba, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka.

In Kanagawa, I’ve lived in Yokohama, Kamakura, and now Fujisawa. I’ve also visited Odawara, Yokosuka, Kawasaki, Sagamihara, Isehara, Chigasaki, Hiratsuka, Zushi, Hayama, Miura, Oiso, and Yamato. I think the highlights are Kamakura (many temples and shrines), Odawara (castle pictured above), Fujisawa (with Enoshima), and Yokohama (technically the largest city in Japan).

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Living in Japan: Favourite Thing

I got a big question his week. Check out my answer.

I Read Encyclopedias for Fun

It’s now April 20th, one year from our big move to Canada.  And in honour of that, Sierra has given me one of the most difficult questions to answer.  Thank you very much! Of course, if you have any questions, please post them on the original post here.

S. R. Carrillo asked this whopper of a question:

What’s your favorite part about living in Japan?

Hasedera in Kamakura

Well, Sierra, this is a rather difficult question to answer because I love so much about Japan.  However, I would have to say that one of my favourite things to do is sightseeing.  In particular, old temples and shrines.  I love exploring different places.  The area i live in is so rich in history and historic sites that I haven’t seen them all.  And I lived in Kamakura, one of Japan’s old capitals.  I’ve seen the major sites, but I haven’t…

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Mt. Fuji after the rain

After nearly 40 straight hours of constant rain, the sky began to clear up in the afternoon.  The air was absolutely clear.  What does that mean?  A very clear view of the Tanzawa Mountains and Mt. Fuji.  I took this picture from work today, and it was incredible to see.  Mt. Fuji was capped by clouds, but you can see that it’s still covered by snow.  It’ll be a while until it’s snow-free.

I love being able to see Mt. Fuji regularly.

2012 Picture of the Week (49/52) – Beautiful

I never get tired of this view.  One of the best things about living in Kanagawa is that Mt. Fuji can be seen from almost anywhere, as long as your view isn’t obstructed.  If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may recognise this view.  On the left is Mt. Fuji covered with snow and some clouds, while the mountains in the foreground are the Tanzawa Mountains.  I’ve climbed two mountains in this photo, Mt. Fuji and Mt. Oyama (it’s the peak on the left in the Tanzawa Mountains).  No matter how many times I see this view, I am amazed.  It is beautiful.

Mt. Fuji and the Tanzawa Mountains on a very clear day.

2012 Picture of the Week (38/52) – Mt. Fuji appears peaceful

Mt. Fuji is the symbol of Japan.  It is so recognizable, and is an example of a nearly perfectly shaped stratovolcano.  At 3776 metres tall, it is the tallest mountain in Japan.  I’ve been to the top and peered down into the summit crater.  Very exhilarating!  Today, I took this picture shortly after sunset, and you can see the peaceful cone of the volcano on the left.  Or is it peaceful?  It seems that recent measurements have shown that the pressure in the magma chamber is 16 times the minimum amount for an eruption.  But it doesn’t mean that an eruption will happen soon.  Other factors are involved for an eruption.  So for now, enjoy the view!

Mt. Fuji is always an amazing sight to see and photograph. When it’s clear, I’m lucky to be able to see it from work, on the train, and at the park near my apartment. The Tanzawa Mountains are in the foreground.

2012 Picture of the Week (34/52) – Mt. Fuji on a Cloudy Summer Day

It’s rare to see Mt. Fuji on a summer day, but thanks to some rain and clear air, it was visible under the cloudy sky. Also visible in this picture are the Tanzawa Mountains. I took this picture from the train.

The rare summer Mt. Fuji photo.