By: Momo

Hi friends!

Today our team had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Mount Fuji. Departing from Meiji University, the drive to the iconic volcano was filled with vibrant energy as we connected with our Meiji supporters. From Tokyo, the drive took a little under three hours. This put the speed of the Shinkansen into a new light as we had zipped by the beautiful mountain in what seemed like just half an hour the week before!

As we ascended the mountain, a heavy fog shrouded the windows, only adding to the anticipation. Professor Katada then announced that if we listened carefully, we would hear the music of Mount Fuji. I had never heard of this before, but the whole bus went silent in an attempt to hear the mountain’s song. The faint chimes coupled with the fog created a mystical atmosphere that had me in awe of Japan’s natural landscape.

Winding around the mountain, Professor Nelson from Meiji informed us that we would stop at the 5th station, which was bustling with tourist shots and (hopefully) a good view of the summit. Passing by lush evergreens, a clearing finally opened for a brief second, and we could see just how far we had driven. Then, we parked at the fifth station and disembarked the bus to observe all the location had to offer.

Getting off the bus, the fog thickened, and an icy cold enwrapped our bodies. After just experiencing a heatwave in Tokyo, I was thrilled by the refreshing cold and crisp mountain air. We could not yet see the summit, so our group decided to explore.

Walking into the main store, I was taken aback by all of the delicious goodies the vendors had on sale (I am sure you’ve heard this before, but I will say it again— the food, especially the sweets, are so good in Japan.) My eyes were first drawn to these scrumptious Mount Fuji Melon Cakes that were stuffed with custard. Since we could not yet see the actual mountain, a few of us purchased the little cakes, which proved to be a delicious alternative. As the yogi in me randomly decided to be healthy, I kept looking for a snack that would satiate my desires and commemorate the moment. After passing by rows of candies and pastries galore, I found a vendor at the back of the store selling apples. Fuji apples to be precise. Since Japan is an island, fruit is hard to come by and proves quite expensive! In fact, each of these apples cost the equivalent five US dollars! Since I had been craving fruit, and since the pun was just too good, I decided to splurge a little, and let me tell you, the apple was juicy, fresh, and delicious.

Mount FUJI Apple :^)

Fuji Cakes. Yum!

After the group finished wrapping up their purchases, we exited the store to a beautiful sight. The sun had broken through the fog for a brief moment and we were able to see the stunning beauty of the mountain. Tourists swarmed to get pictures in before the fog overtook the snow-capped summit. I quickly pulled out my phone to try and sneak some shots, but alas, the fog once again returned. At this point, it was time to head back to the bus to continue our journey to the Kiyosato retreat. Despite only seeing the summit for a brief moment, the aura of the environment, coupled with Mt. Fuji’s physical beauty, has me yearning to return to hike the mountain in the future. Until then, I cannot wait to experience the rest of the sights Japan has to offer. 

Fifth Station Store