🍇 Post-Summit Bliss: Grapes, Clouds, and Kawaguchiko Magic
After the excitement of a successful Mount Fuji summit, we took a deep breath and decided to enjoy the mountain from below — spending sometime around Lake Kawaguchiko.
We drove along the lakeshore to a small park with a perfect view: mountain + lake + soft drifting clouds. Japan’s tourism is buzzing these days — what I thought was a big crowd, my local friend assured me was nothing compared to peak season!
It was fun waiting for Fuji-san to show itself. The mountain doesn’t stay visible all day; it hides and reappears behind the clouds, so that iconic photo takes patience. When it finally emerged, we got our group shot — pure joy and relief in one frame.
In the park, we sampled Japan’s famous Yamanashi grapes — Kyoho and Shine Muscat. These aren’t your regular grapes; they’re closer in size to small plums, seedless, and incredibly sweet. The flesh has a soft, jelly-like texture that’s delicate and refreshing, not gooey — almost like nature’s version of a perfectly balanced dessert. 🍇
Vendors offered soft-serve ice cream with blends of different grape flavors, but I stayed with the fruit itself — simple, fresh, restorative.
After days of physical exertion, there was no better recovery than sitting under Fuji’s shifting clouds, tasting sweetness grown in volcanic soil. Nature’s perfect dessert before the next climb.
🧠Simplify & Summit™ in Action
Simplify: Let go of the push and pause for joy.
Summit: Savor progress as much as achievement.
Sustain: Recovery and reflection are part of the climb.
