I took today’s photo from Shinjuku in Tokyo. I used my TZ7 (which I eventually sold to a friend in Starbucks in Shibuya–I hope it is still treating my friend well) at maximum zoom which equates to over a 400mm focal length on the 35mm scale. The camera is not supposed to go beyond 300mm, but with certain settings you can bump it up higher than that. The photo has not been cropped.

If you talk to people in Tokyo, you’ll find that some haven’t seen Mt. Fuji in years or even decades. I met one who claimed to have never seen Mt. Fuji. That’s not because they can’t see it from Tokyo (although buildings block most views), they just don’t bother to look. I, on the other hand, couldn’t go more than a few weeks without finding a location from which I could view Mt. Fuji while living in Tokyo.

Posted on May 5th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: mt. fuji, sunset. Comments: 1

My random desktop image today of Mt. Fuji takes my mind back to the day I took this photo. A wonderful sensation…

Posted on April 26th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: enoshima, fishing, mt. fuji, sunset. Comments: 2

I took today’s photo at Ikegami Baien. An artist had multiple works of bonsai on display and ready to sale.

By the way, if you are in the Tokyo area during the next three weeks or so (late February and early March) you should check this place out. The plum blossoms are amazing.

Posted on February 20th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: bonsai, mt. fuji. Comments: 1

The sign says this is the place to stand to see Mt. Fuji (fujimidai). The photo to the right of these females show you what Fuji San looks like from here on the best of days. These Japanese ladies are trying with all their might to get a glimpse, but Mt. Fuji would not show its hidden face on this day.

If you want to try your luck, head to Kamakura and follow the path behind Kenchoji (建長寺) to Hansobo (半僧坊) to find this location. Your odds of seeing Mt. Fuji are much better at sunrise or sunset. Winter will also increase your chances as the humidity isn’t usually as bad.

Posted on January 25th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: kamakura, kenchoji, mt. fuji, signs. Comments Off on Fuji viewing platform (富士見台), or not

For much of the year, Mt. Fuji is difficult or impossible to see from Tokyo. Maybe once or twice a month at sunrise or dusk is the best you can do. But November is a good month for seeing Mt. Fuji from many tall buildings in Tokyo. You won’t see it every day, but there are a fair number of chances. I took this photo from the Waseda University campus in Shinjuku Ku. (Here is the same scene without the zoom.)

The building blocking part of the view is 住友中野坂上ビル (Sumitomo Nakano Sakaue Biru) located in Nakano. I’ve been to the top of tall buildings in Nakano too, but never on a day when Mt. Fuji was visible. The top few floors of this building in Nakano are residences. I wouldn’t mind living there and taking a peak out the window every few hours to see if Fuji San can be seen (or more likely not).

Posted on November 6th, 2010 under Japan. Tags: buildings, mt. fuji, nakano, waseda university. Comments Off on Mt. Fuji from central Tokyo