After a two hour bus trip from Shinjyuku, Tokyo, we arrived at Oshino, a small village in Mt. Fuji Five Lake region in Yamanashi Prefecture. No city noises nor lights here but calm mountains in the cool air. Oshino's treasure is Oshino-Hakkai, eight ponds (springs) fed by snow melt from the slopes around Mt. Fuji that filters down the mountain through porus layers of lave for over 80 years, resulting in very clear water. Which is an obvious sign of delicious foods! Since we knew we would have a big dinner at hotel, we munched some local snacks during our visiting Oshino-Hakkai.
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| fish swimming in a clear deep pond |
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| Mt. Fuji seen from Oshino |
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| Jumbo soy sauce flavored rice cracker, Nori-Senbei |
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| Yomogi-mochi, Japanese herb mixed rice cake filled with sweeten red beans |
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| Variety of fish cake - J's pick was Tako-Bou (Octopus and red ginger) |
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We stayed on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi. Great Mt. Fuji was captured over the lake from the big window of our room. After sunset, our hotel entertained us with Japanese formal
dinner,
Kaiseki - a series of various dishes made with seasonal and local ingredients, served by a specific order.
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| Mt. Fuji before sunset |
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| Otoushi: Shirako-Tofu , Hassun: Ankimo, Mozuku-su, Tsubu-gai, Suno-mono: Ika-Salmon Kinshi-maki |
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| Otsukuri: Four kinds of seafood |
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| Oshinogi: Ume-soumen |
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| Yakimono: Beef fillet steak on lava |
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| Nakazara: Seafood gratin in baked persimmon |
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| Agemono: Fried oyster |
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| Nimono: Kinme-awayuki with Kurikabocha |
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| Wanmono: Ebi-dango with Temari-fu and fish noodle; Gohan: steamed rice; Kounomono: two kinds of pickles |
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| Mizu-gashi: Panna cotta, Poached pear, Chocolate cake |
The hotel served breakfast too. It was at the same table as where we had dinner last night.
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| Japanese formal breakfast - a lot of dishes! |
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There was Morning-shining Mt. Fuji over Lake Kawaguchi right in front of us.
What a perfect table and situation! |
Since Mt. Fuji was just there, why didn't we climb up Mt. Fuji? We did to the 5th stage of Mt. Fuji (2,305m/7,560ft) by car, the highest point where cars could reach. It was breezy and freezing! Our guide said it was -3 C/26 F while the weather was pretty! There were some lodges, that is to say, souvenir stores and restaurants. One of them sold
Fuji-san Meron-pan, sweet pastry shaped like Mt. Fuji. We bought one and shared it each other.
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| Looking up Mt. Fuji Stage 10 from Stage 5 |
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| Fuji-san Meron-pan is only available at Stage 5 of Mt. Fuji in Japan! |
The next destination was Lake Motosu, located the west edge of Fuji Five Lakes. While Lake Kawaguchi was accessible from resort hotels and train stations, Lake Motosu remained its wild nature surrounded by deep forest. It was around lunch time, our guide took us to a local restaurant that served Houtou, one of famous local dishes in Yamanashi Prefecture.
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| Mt. Fuji over beautiful Lake Motosu |
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| Thick noodle and vegetables in iron pot, Houtou - hearty delish! |
