6 December 2009

What a difference a few hours makes! After a poor night's sleep on a thin futon with a stone for a pillow and a snorer next to me, I was recompensed by the sight of Fuji, resplendent with snow, from our bedroom window. The scene of blue sky, sea, mountain and the odd boat, plus a fisherman on a jutting pier was extremely tranquil. We could even see the tardy moon still lingering above the mountain.

After a filling and varied breakfast we packed up and got out to make the most of the dry, clear morning. This time we took a good look around the shrine complex spread out up the hill, including a pool guarded by a dragon, where we washed some small coins in the holy water, to purify them and make them lucky. Apparently the five yen bronze coins with a hole in the middle are the most auspicious.

At the top of the island is a large area of garden that was set out by one Samuel Cocking, a British merchant, with the lighthouse cum observation tower at its heart. Up on the roof of the 60m structure, we had superb views all across Sagami Bay and across to Fuji.

It was so sunny that I feared we might burn, and was very sorry when we ran out of time and had to go back down. I was really missing Nick and Emily though, and wished I could magically transport them here to enjoy the views with me. Kit and I left the others browsing the shops and made our way back to Tokyo, using the cute little Enoden railway line that hugs the coast and trundles along just feet away from people's houses.