Pond

Last year, I visited the Fuji Five Lakes. Between those lakes are villages turning to be tourist attractions as well. One of them is Oshino Hakkai (忍野八海). I haven't heard about it until a friend invited to join the bus tour.

Aokigahara

Few months ago, I saw a documentary about Japan’s Aokigahara or Suicide Forest. It was an eye-opener and I have been thinking how a beautiful forest can be the final place of lost souls.

Aokigahara (青木ヶ原), also known as the Suicide Forest or Sea of Trees (樹海 Jukai), is a 35-square-kilometre (14 sq mi) forest that lies at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest contains a number of rocky, icy caverns, a few of which are popular tourist destinations. Aokigahara forest is dense, shutting out all but the natural sounds of the forest itself. more here

Lakes

In 2012, I reached the summit of Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain. It was one of the highlights of my stay here in Japan, though I don't have any plan to climb it again. However, I had plans of visiting the five lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. Luckily, there was an available Fujigoko (Fuji five lakes) photo tour at the start of the year. The one day tour costs from 8,000 - 12,000 yen depending on the travel date. 

The Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) were formed hundreds of years ago by lava flows which dammed up rivers during Mount Fuji's multiple eruptions. more here

Bloomsville

It’s a wrap! Springtime’s over. And if you think that Japan only showcases cherry blossoms or popularly known as sakura during spring, think again. Japan is blessed with various flower species, which in one way or another, have the same charm and appeal as that of cherry blossoms. It’s about time to know some of them. It may be a year early but here are some of the places you should visit next spring in Bloomsville aka Japan. Again, I am not including the cherry blossoms spots.