Fall colors at Lake Kawaguchi 河口湖の紅葉

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Drove to the today to check out the fall colors (紅葉 "koyo"), unknowingly joining the hordes of people who had the same idea. It took us about 20 minutes to realize that, in the bumper to bumper traffic along the single lane bridge crossing Lake Kawaguchi 河口湖, we would be much better off walking.

I shouldn't be surprised by things like this anymore. I should have expected the crowds. What a rookie error to forget that A). seasonal concepts have long been a part of the Japanese culture - think Haiku for starters - aka Japanese go ga-ga for this stuff, B). nothing says photo op like an Autumnal Mt. Fuji, and no one loves a photo op more than the Japanese, and finally C). Japanese people are willing to wait nearly any amount of time for almost anything.

It was sunny when we left Shizuoka city; I got some great views of Fuji from the car (no photos from me, I was behind the wheel), but by the time we reached the lakes, the ever-shy mountain was back behind a heavy cloud cover. Mt. Fuji definitely has something personal against me, because every time I set out to get that perfect shot, or even any shot at all, it rains. Seriously.

Anyway, the colors of the were still beautiful despite the tiny bit of gloom overhead. Momiji are a lot tinier than the maple trees I'm used to seeing at home, which I suppose be canadian maple trees, but are moving in the way their delicate leaves quake in the wind (wait, how many syllables is that? That could be a Haiku right there). A big, clunky maple just wouldn't fit in here among all these petite little trees. Actually, the more I think about it, they embody that delicate beauty you can find everywhere in Japan; in the cuisine, in the literature, in the ceremony. So who copied who, I wonder?

Well, this post wouldn't be written by me if it didn't include at least one reference to food. We pulled over for some yummy organic nosh at Solar Cafe on the way home; pizza, curry and apple cake. Yet another random roadside gem run by a cute couple; dad made the pizzas and mom, with baby on her front, cleared the plates.









The end!

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