Finally!

Japan 2007. Fujigoko.

Ticket counter at the lava caves.  A little bird. Friends with the ticket collector.

What was it, I wondered.  So cute and colourful

And have continued to wonder all these years.  Until just recently, when I came across Stu's blog and this post from Hakadote.

Varied Tit - Cyanestes varius.  I also realised that it must be fairly common there - he has 51 tags for the bird!

This was where we were. Past Lake Saiko.

The caves had a walkway through them, these "bloody" icicles from the walls, and snake-like solidified rivers of larva.

And these fossilised eggs!

Outside was the Aokigahara.  The dense dark forests, famed for suicides, and quite creepy in the day.  Imagine how it would be in the night!

Remembering Japan

March 16th, 2007

We were there. Happier times.

Lake Kawaguchiko, at the base of Mt Fuji
The retro bus that took us on a tour of the five lakes
The volcanic mountains around
Lake Saiko, (I think)
Varied Tit (Cyanistes varius) at the ticket counter

The Lava forests. (Aokigahara). Grows on the lava outflow. A little creepy, easy to get lost
Lake Sai?
Common Coot in Kawaguchiko
Shinto shrine archway at the edge of the lake
Fugaku lava caves. Fossils and ice inside. Also very cold.

Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. These pictures reminded me of how vulnerable they are to the elements.