#Sankodai

[enjoycameralife]

Koyodai and Sankodai Panoramic Platform

on my last day in Yamanashi, i went full on physical activity mode, starting with a hike up to both the Koyodai and Sankodai panoramic platforms. as if the last hike didn’t already knock me out half dead, this particular hike definitely took a lot of effort for yours truly’s unfit derriere.

the first stop, Koyodai, is a 45 minute hike from the bus stop, and visitors may either use the less physically demanding work road or challenge themselves with a hike through the Tokai nature trail. or you could also drive up. the Koyodai Observatory houses not only an observatory, but also a quaint old shop run by an elderly couple. for 500 yen, a visitor will be allowed to ascend to the observation deck that provides a 360 degrees panoramic view of the immediate surrounding area and beyond, including the infamous Aokigahara. from here, i could finally begin to grasp the vastness of Aokigahara, and it’s no wonder that Aokigahara is also dubbed as the sea of trees. it goes far beyond what i’m able to comprehend, and attests to the power of mother nature.

but my hike isn’t over yet, and i powered through one last 20 minute hike to the Sankodai platform. at at elevation of 1202 meters, you feel like you’re on top of the world, and that much closer to the sun (and with it being a cloudless sunny day, you do feel like you’re a little too close to the sun). when i arrived, a big group of elderly men and women were already seated and ready for their outdoor lunch feast. it always astounds me how fit the Japanese senior citizens are - and also how they know how to enjoy themselves outdoors. i parked my behind under the shade of a measly tree trunk and gobbled down my kombini onigiri lunch feast, basking in the cool, fresh air, and generally feeling like i’ve accomplished something. for all my unfit self, i managed to drag my unfit self all the way up here to Sankodai, and now i’m treated to a fantastic uninhibited view of Mount Fuji from 1200 meters high. i gave myself a proverbial pat on the back, and deliberated on the impending 45 minute hike down.

[lets-take-a-break]

山湖台　SANKODAI

福島県耶麻郡磐梯町　Bandai-machi, Yama-gun, Fukushima, Japan

2013/11

[enjoycameralife]

Aokigahara / Jukai

we all know Aokigahara’s grim reputation, but many tend to overlook the simple fact that it is a startlingly quiet and beautiful place. as walk along the trail, the only sounds you hear are your feet rustling through the fallen leaves, the occasional bird song, and if you listen closely, your breathing. i made no attempts at deviating from the trail, owing to my already exhausted state from my hike to Koyodai and Sankodai. my ankles and back were killing me, and i simply couldn’t wait to reach the end of the trail, but i absolutely couldn’t stop admiring the breathtaking results of nature’s synergy. the labyrinthine tree roots that engulf the soil. the trees reaching up towards the heavens at dizzying heights. the green moss living and thriving on every possible surface available for them. the evening light penetrating through the leaves and branches. the silence.

it’s easy to get lost in the neck of the woods, with every possible obstacle getting in your way. but never lose sight of the light. never give in to the eternal silence. there’s always a way out of the forest, if you choose to look for it.

your ankles will thank you.