Takao-san

an hour's train ride to the south western peripheral of Tokyo takes one to Takao-san, famous for being one of the many nature-centered vantage points where one can view Fuji-san on a clear day. the hiking trail up to the peak was a leisurely affair - along the way up, one may indulge in Takao-san's many snacks including their famous matcha ice-cream and red bean cakes shaped like the tengu of the mountain. on that particular January morning, our hike up was pleasant thanks to the generally warm and clear weather. to make things a lot more magical, it had been snowing here in Takao-san a week prior to our arrival, so the trails were covered in a blanket of snow. for yours truly, this is the first time i've ever set foot on snow, which adds to the excitement of the hike up. the peak, sitting 499.5 meters above sea level, was brimming with people - hikers, couples, a surprisingly large amount of old folks, school kids, and the odd traveller or two. everyone was wandering about, admiring the view of Fuji-san, opening up their bentos for a picnic at the peak, taking selfies after selfies, and generally having a grand time at the top of Takao-san. we settled for lunch at the vegetarian soba restaurant at the peak, with a fantastic view of Fuji-san and the mountain range it sat on to accompany us for lunch. nothing quite feels as comfortable as that one moment where my bowl of soba arrived and i started slurping up the delicious noodles. it truly is amazing how the world is such a beautiful place, and the chance to experience its awe and beauty is something i'll never get enough of.