The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 3 - Haneda Airport

PART 3 - The first time I saw Mount Fuji at ground level but from a distance was from the arrival floor of Haneda Airport.

Taken on 2 July 2017 - Oh hai Mount Fuji. Nice to see you again.

My family and I had just landed into Tokyo the night before and we stayed overnight at First Cabin hotel. The following morning, we headed to the bus stop for the bus to Kamakura at around 10am and from the first floor windows of the airport before heading down to the bus terminal, we could see Mount Fuji. At first, we weren't sure if it was Mount Fuji because it seemed impossible. But it was and she looked majestic that morning. There were streaks of white snow on her cap and we pondered how cold it might be up there because at the end of our trip, we were going to climb Mount Fuji. Nevertheless I took it as a good sign

The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 2 - From a Chuo Highway Bus

PART TWO - This was the first time I actually saw Mount Fuji in all her naked glory from a highway bus passing by Fuji Q Highland and it had been at the most frustrating of times.

Taken on 2 September 2015 - I ascended Japan's highest mountain in the worst possible weather ever; heavy rain, directionless winds, sub-zero temps and no sunrise. I'll be back, Fujisan. Please be kind to me then. 

I had actually just descended from Mount Fuji that morning after a cold and miserable hike up the previous day in torrent rain. A typhoon was just passing off the coast of Japan and we got to experience its rain and winds throughout our hike right into the morning when we summited. We never saw the famed Fuji sunrise. Oh well, at least we climbed Japan's tallest mountain.

Read about it here and here:

My travel companions were dozing off when our bus back to Tokyo hit the highway and I happened to glance out the window and saw this seemingly taunting view of clear blue skies and a bare top Fuji looking down at me. I learnt (via Instagram-stalking) that the sunrise the following morning was stunning. It was there and then I promised to come back and conquer Mount Fuji again.

And I did - two years later. Read about it here.

The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 1 - From the Airplane

Hello, people and welcome to PART ONE of the Many Views of Mount Fuji. This kicks off my series of picshorts (picture-shorts) dedicated to the beautiful, the mysterious, the ever volatile active volcano - Mount Fuji!

Taken on 28 Feb 2017 - Mount Fuji peeked out at me from under the blanket of clouds on my flight home. Very lucky considering how shy she is. This is like a teaser to my next crazy thing to do for 2017.

This shot was my most memorable shot of Mount Fuji from afar. I was on board a 5pm flight on ANA back to Kuala Lumpur from Narita Airport after the Tokyo Marathon and had lucked out with a full row to myself. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, I scooted over to the window seat and whipped out my laptop, headphones, phone charger, laptop charger and phone. I made myself quite comfortable across all three seats and about 30 minutes into the flight, peered out the window to watch the sunset across the carpet of clouds. And as there she was, peeking out shyly from the clouds was Mount Fuji.

It seemed kinda meaningful because back then I had attempted to climb Mount Fuji once and did so in a typhoon, thus missing the sunrise. I vowed to climb it again and did so on my 30th birthday with my family and and it was worth it.