Mount Fuji (富士山 Fujisan) is an active stratovolcano which last erupted in 1708. It is the highest and most prominent mountain in Japan which stands at 3,776.24 meters or 12,389 feet. It is located on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures on Honshu island which is about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.
Mt. Omuro (大室山, Ōmuroyama) is an extinct volcano located in Ito City in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is the highest peak in the eastern coast of Izu Peninsula with a height of 580 meters.
Summer is here and what could be the best way to cool off the summer heat than to go swimming and enjoy the water. Fortunately, Tokyo offers abundant water parks where family and friends can go for a refreshingly cool getaways. Here are some of the water parks accessible from central Tokyo:
2014/2015 Season: November 1, 2014 to April 5, 2015
The largest ski area in Karuizawa, an upmarket mountain resort in Nagano Prefeture, is operated by the Prince Snow Resort. With its snow machine, the season can start as early as mid-October, thus one of the earliest resort (in Japan) to open for the season.
Visit Date: 11/17/2014 (Best viewing Time: early November to early December)
Showakinen Park (officially known as Showa Commemorative National Government Park 国営昭和記念公園) is located in Tachikawa, which is only a little over 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku station. With its about 163 hectares land area, the park includes sport fields, barbecue pits, a boating pond, pools, and different magnificent gardens that blooms at various time throughout the year.
Visitors to the park can choose to get off from several stations and we chose the Nishi-Tachikawa station as it is only less than five minutes walk to the entrance gate.
The koyo season around the park usually tends to begin earlier than most of the Tokyo parks, which starts around late October and peak either mid or late November. The colors in this entrance however is still very green, only few trees have changed color.
Maple tree with orange, green, and red leaves along the path to the park’s open field.
Continue reading Autumn 2014: A walk around Showa Kinen Park