Fuji seen from Hara Numazu city
Firstly, let me show you "Hara (Asa no fuji) " in "Fifty-three stages of the Tokaido"
by UTAGAWA Hiroshige.
Hara is located in between the city of Numazu and the city of Fuji.
The reason why I became interested in Hara is
that the summit of Fuji is protruding from the frame of the picture.
"Hara (Asa no fuji) " in "Fifty-three stages of the Tokaido" by UTAGAWA Hiroshige
Only a part of the mountaintop of Fuji can be seen from the center of Numazu on the Tokaido (Route 1), because Mt. Ashitaka hides Fuji. Of course, Fuji comes into your sight when you go down to the south from the center of the city.
Going the Tokaido to the west from the center of Numazu, the left ridge line of Fuji comes into sight from near the intersection of Kenji-iriguchi as the upper left corner of the photo below. It is because it is shifted from the peak of Mt. Ashitaka. Then, as there is a flat part, the visible part comes to spread, as the top right of the following photos seen from Katahama.
Then, proceed further to the west, I am led to Hara Numazu. The figure of Fuji is coming spread in front from near Hara as if the ridge of Mt. Ashitaka forgot to block the view of Fuji. Hara is the very place with the maximum value of the spreading velocity of the sight of Fuji, I thought.
Taken on Feb. 13, 2008
It seems to me that a mixture of joy and hope made Hiroshige take off the picture frame and draw the top of Fuji.
Here, I will show a picture of Fuji seen from Hara again.
It is a wonderful Fuji seen from the intersection of Tohri between Hara and Higashi-Tagonoura.
On the left side of the Fuji, there is nothing more to obstruct the view of Fuji.
It is seen from Ohno-shinden between Yoshiwara and Higashi-Tagonoura.
It is the face of Fuji seen from the south.
When we go further to the west from Ono-shinden, Yoshihara, Tagonoura,
then followed by Kanbara, Yui, Okitsu, and Shimizu Ejiri.
And followed by the historic places for Fuji-viewing,
such as Nihondaira, Kunohzan hill and Miho-no-matsubara.
Also, when you walk on Tokaido from the west to the east,
you would be able to include the Satta pass of Yui town
as an impressive location that Fuji suddenly appears before your eyes.
It can be considered as a kind of passing or progressing place of attraction.
When you go or come back to each location of attraction,
each would be a place where you would get pleasure to begin to see Fuji,
and at the same time it would be also a place where you should prepare for the loneliness of last look.
Getting such a chance encounter and such parting, it would be walking on the Tokaido.