Offering a Prayer in Quietude: Amidst the Scenery of Mt. Fuji and Cherry Blossoms Viewed from Yamanashi
One day, feeling exhausted by daily life, I decided to go on a trip to steady my breathing.
In the midst of busy days, many small burdens pile up without me even noticing, and
before I know it, I find I have no room left in my heart.
Fluffy little clouds floating in the soft, light blue sky,
the high-pitched chirping of small birds in the trees,
and the tiny yellow flowers, no bigger than a pinky finger, blooming quietly beneath those trees.
I become unable to turn my eyes toward such daily scenery,
and instead focus only on finishing tasks quickly and getting through my routine.
There is no space left to nurture my own heart.
“I want to be calm and take a slow, deep breath.”
Wanting to cherish that feeling, I decided to drive to one of my favorite places.
Just a moment of silence can bring peace to the heart.
There are two shrines in Yamanashi that I visit whenever I want to feel at peace.
I first went there on a whim after hearing it was a “power spot for financial luck,” but because it is near Mt. Fuji, the air is clear and the atmosphere is wonderful. Before I knew it, it had become one of my favorite places.
It is the perfect place to steady my shallow breathing.
The first place I visited was the Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, located right in front of Lake Kawaguchi.
The enshrined deity is Konohanasakuya-hime, said to be extremely beautiful, and is famous for blessings related to good relationships, children, and prosperity.
As if to match the deity, beautiful pale pink cherry blossoms swayed gently in the breeze around the shrine. Through the cherry blossoms, Mt. Fuji, covered in snow, welcomed me. Watching the majestic Mt. Fuji, I realized that I live in such a small world.
The shrine's approach is lined with cherry trees, and with every step I took, the soft breeze seemed to carry the scent of spring. The cherry blossoms, which were about 70% in bloom, should be at their peak this weekend.
The main shrine, which was destroyed by Mt. Fuji's eruptions and rebuilt and expanded many times, stands beautifully with its vermilion pillars. Thinking about how people in the past have always cherished this shrine filled me with a sense of gratitude.
I took a step forward and straightened my posture in front of the offering box.
With a sacred feeling, I bowed twice slowly.
I clapped my hands twice, and the clear sound echoed through the shrine grounds.
Then, I pressed my slightly warm palms together and closed my eyes.
I expressed my daily gratitude and bowed once more.
Silence enveloped the surroundings.
This prayer, which lasts less than a minute, always calms my heart. In the clear air, the time spent with a blank mind, simply pressing my hands together in silence... it was a moment that created space in my heart.
■ Fujiumuro Sengen Shrine
Address: 3951 Katsuyama, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Shrine Office Hours: 9:00-16:00
A small step toward returning to myself
Next, I head to Araya Yama Shrine, located about a 15-minute drive from Fujiumuro Sengen Shrine.
Before reaching the shrine, I found a spot lined with deep pink weeping cherry trees. As I approached, I saw the white, shining peak of Mt. Fuji peeking through the cherry blossoms here as well.
“How lucky I am!”
I thought, feeling happy as I arrived at the shrine.
Founded in the late Muromachi period, Araya Yama Shrine is dedicated to Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto, the father of Konohanasakuya-hime. As a deity who governs the mountains, the shrine stands with Mt. Fuji at its back.
There is a main shrine (Hongu) and an inner shrine (Okumiya), but I visited the main shrine on this day.
Because the inner shrine is located at the second station of Mt. Fuji, it becomes accessible for worship around Golden Week each year.
At the entrance stands a red torii gate with a sacred atmosphere, where the scent of soil drifts from the surrounding forest.
In the trees nearby, the chirping of small birds echoed as if rejoicing in the sunlight after the rain.
I walked under a series of short torii gates spaced apart, climbing up stone steps as I went.
In front of the offering box, I performed the same ritual: two bows, two claps, and one bow.
The sequence of movements when praying at a shrine feels like a ritual to calm my own mind.
It is a strange sensation, as if my consciousness, which is usually scattered busily here and there, is focusing on a single point.
I am not influenced by the sounds around me or the gazes of others.
Naturally, my breathing slows down.
“I’ve returned to my usual self.”
A feeling of relief spread throughout my body.
■ Araya Yama Shrine
Address: 4-2-2 Araya, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Shrine Office Hours: 9:00-16:00
*Regarding the inner shrine, it is expected to be accessible for worship from around the end of Golden Week, depending on this year's snow conditions.
Savoring local specialties while gazing at the majestic Mt. Fuji
After finishing my visit, I decide to grab a bite to eat before heading home.
Michi-no-Eki Fujiyoshida is a roadside station where you can enjoy the impressive sight of Mt. Fuji while visiting the local produce market or dining at a restaurant that serves local craft beer.
It is a five-minute drive from Araya Yamajinja Shrine, and since it is located just before the Fujiyoshida-Oshino Smart Interchange, it is the perfect place to stop by during a drive.
Here, I decide to have the local specialty of Fujiyoshida City, "Yoshida Udon."
Yoshida Udon is a dish featuring thick, chewy noodles topped with cabbage and horse meat. There were other toppings like kakiage tempura, but I ordered the classic udon.
When I scoop up the piping hot soup with a spoon, the slightly sweet aroma of kelp dashi spreads through my mouth. The slightly thick noodles feel heavy when lifted with chopsticks, and the rugged texture characteristic of hand-kneaded noodles makes them very satisfying. The sweet and savory horse meat acts as an accent to the gentle soup, and I found myself eating it all in one go, blowing on the hot noodles as I went.
When you get thirsty, it is a nice touch that you can also drink the groundwater of Mt. Fuji.
The drink corner inside the shop has blue and white cups designed to look like Mt. Fuji, which are cute and perfect for photos. Drinking water from such a lovely cup made me feel as if I were being purified from within.
There is also a water filling station near the parking lot, so please be sure to make use of it.
When I stepped out into the parking lot, Mt. Fuji, which had been slightly obscured by clouds until just a moment ago, had clearly revealed itself.
The snow near the summit must have turned to ice, as it was glistening and reflecting the sunlight.
"Little by little, Mt. Fuji is heading toward the season of snowmelt."
As I thought this and walked toward my car, my steps felt lighter than when I had arrived.
Michi-no-Eki Fujiyoshida [Official] (@michinoeki_fujiyoshida) • Instagram photos and videos
■ Michi-no-Eki Fujiyoshida
Address: 3-7-3 Araya, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business Hours: Weekdays: 9:00-17:00, Weekends and Holidays: 9:00-18:00
Reflecting once more in the car as the warm sunlight pours down
I head home, feeling the gentle, rhythmic vibrations of the car.
"I want to take a deep breath."
The trip I started with that thought is now coming to an end, wrapped in a sense of calm comfort.
Surely, even in our daily lives, we can take deep, slow breaths.
However, there may be times when we need to borrow the power of a grand environment to clear our minds.
The gentle, soft embrace of cherry blossoms and the sight of Mount Fuji, spreading its base wide and remaining unmoved by anything.
A moment of quiet prayer within that environment.
During such a journey, before I knew it, a little space had opened up in my heart.
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