Early Summer on Mount Amari One morning, Mount Fuji appeared beyond the flower-covered slope

On a June morning, I changed into my walking shoes in the car park at Mount Amari. I wanted to walk to a spot where I could see Mount Fuji beyond the flowers. I pulled on a pale blue jacket and adjusted my backpack straps. I'd driven up the mountain, but now I was looking forward to feeling the trail beneath my shoes.

As I followed the trail, Japanese azaleas crowded the low branches. I stopped to admire them up close, then looked up and saw the flower-covered slope continuing much farther ahead. I walked on as if I were following the blooms, but the hillside was far wider than I'd expected, and I stopped in my tracks. I hadn't imagined so many flowers would be waiting up here.

A breeze came through and lifted the brim of my hat. I held it down with one hand and gripped my backpack strap with the other. As I looked up, I saw Mount Fuji emerging from the clouds beyond the flowers. I gasped. I wanted to take in the nearby flowers and the mountain in the distance, but I couldn't look away from Fuji.

When I looked at the map, I thought I'd take a photo once I reached the summit and then head back. But as I traced the slopes of Mount Fuji above the clouds, I didn't want to leave so soon. I took my camera out, but before I snapped a picture, I found myself gazing at the view again. I spent more time standing there with my hand on my hat than taking photos, and laughed at myself for thinking I could hurry through a morning like this.

On the way back, I walked more slowly, taking in the flowers along the path. Still amazed by the distant view, I wanted to look more closely even at the flowers on the branches by my feet. I hear Tsutsuji-en at the trailhead has light refreshments like cake. Just thinking of a sweet treat after the walk made me relax my shoulders a little.

Back at the car, I looked through the photos I'd taken. The flowers and Mount Fuji were there, but the breeze that lifted my hat hadn't made it into them. So whenever I look at the photos, I want to remember that breeze. I also wanted to try some of Yamanashi's local dishes after coming down from the mountain. I wanted to tell someone about the view that morning, so I opened the photo one more time before setting off.