The Crimson Watcher
This was our annual family trip—full of compromises and a whirlwind itinerary. I knew Lake Kawaguchiko would offer some of the best photographic moments, but we had less than 24 hours to spare. The rain forecast had loomed for days, and when we arrived by train, it poured harder than I’ve seen in years.
With nowhere else to go, we checked into our hotel and wandered through nearby museums. Then, as if on cue, the clouds began to lift. I headed straight to Arakurayama Sengen Park, hoping for a glimpse of Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji behind it.
Just as I arrived, the sun broke through. Mount Fuji emerged through the haze, and golden light touched the pagoda’s edges. It wasn’t a perfect sky, but the atmosphere was unforgettable—quiet, fleeting, surreal. I chose to leave the wire/electrical cables visible in the photo. I had seen so many images where it had been edited out, I didn’t even know it existed until I stood there myself. Now that I’ve seen it in person, I wanted to keep it in—to remind myself and others that this detail is part of reality.
The Crimson Watcher
This was our annual family trip—full of compromises and a whirlwind itinerary. I knew Lake Kawaguchiko would offer some of the best photographic moments, but we had less than 24 hours to spare. The rain forecast had loomed for days, and when we arrived by train, it poured harder than I’ve seen in years.
With nowhere else to go, we checked into our hotel and wandered through nearby museums. Then, as if on cue, the clouds began to lift. I headed straight to Arakurayama Sengen Park, hoping for a glimpse of Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji behind it.
Just as I arrived, the sun broke through. Mount Fuji emerged through the haze, and golden light touched the pagoda’s edges. It wasn’t a perfect sky, but the atmosphere was unforgettable—quiet, fleeting, surreal. I chose to leave the wire/electrical cables visible in the photo. I had seen so many images where it had been edited out, I didn’t even know it existed until I stood there myself. Now that I’ve seen it in person, I wanted to keep it in—to remind myself and others that this detail is part of reality.