Blessed fuji
Mythical emblem of Japan, I had to take a picture of Mount Fuji. Traveling without a plan and without an itinerary, it was therefore rather by chance that I found myself in front of this magnificent view.
Article originally published on April 27, 2015.
It was my penultimate day with my JR train pass, allowing me to go just about anywhere in Japan. Leaving Nagano in the morning towards the capital, I noticed on the way that the sky was free of rain for the first time in two weeks. At the Tokyo train station, I do a little research on the best place to take a picture of the famous mountain. The Chureito Pagoda holds my attention.
Three and a half hours, and three trains later, I find myself climbing the side of this mountain. Unfortunately, in the meantime the weather has darkened again (understand, it's raining heavily).
Great view of Fuji ...!
I explore the surroundings and take a few photos here and there, without being overly confident. But as the hours go by, the wind blows the clouds little by little ... and seems to bring its share of photographers with it!
Because of my exploration of places, I lost my strategic place! It was then that the thunder rang out again, and the improbable happened: all the Japanese left immediately, leaving me a wonderful space next to two professional photographers, one Italian and the other German. .
The Milanese Michele tells me that he has been trying to get this image of Fuji for three weeks. First to wait for the cherry blossoms which refused to grow in the absence of heat. Then when they finally appeared, it started to rain nonstop. Every morning and every evening, Michel climbed the hill in the hope of getting a ray of sunshine before the petals were completely detached by the water.
He asks me how long I've been trying for the same goal. Half-proud, half-ashamed, I reply that I discovered the place by chance only a few hours before. Michele then tells me in Italian a sentence that I translate freely.
"You have blessed kids."
Italian Michele, German Michael and myself.
Conclusion of this last minute decision: a photo of which I am rather proud, two new friends, and a great adventure.
You will find here Michele's work, and here Michael's.