CULTURAL CONNECTION

FUJI YOSHIDA SENGEN SHRINE & FUJI LAVA CAVES

WITH OSHINO VILLAGE

SAT • 7 AUG

Cultural Connection

Oshino Village is a famous small village in the Fuji Five Lakes region. Located between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka, the village is set on the former sixth lake that dried out several hundred years ago. With eight ponds that are snow fed from the slopes of Mount Fuji, the clear spring water is revered by locals. Fuji Yoshida Shrine, located at the base of Mount Fuji stands in a dense forest lined with stone lanterns and shaded by tall cedar trees that are said to be over a thousand years old. Once a common starting point, before climbers began there ascend on Mt. Fuji, with the trailhead directly behind the shrine’s main hall. Some hikers still stop and pray before passing through the wooden Tori gate before their trek. Mt. Fuji’s past eruptions have created multiple lava caves around its base. The wind cave, with an average temperature of three degrees celsius was used to store silkworm eggs and crop seeds. The bat cave, which has been designated as a national monument with conservation efforts to increase the numbers of bats. The Lava Caves are nearly 350 meters long with multiple large chambers and tunnels waiting to be explored.

20 HORIZONS JULY 2021

COST BY AGE GROUP;

$77 (13 & Up); $67 (6–12); $50 (3–5); $45 (2 & Under if a Seat is Needed)

For updates on all things ITT, visit /YokotaITT. For detailed information on ITT’s upcoming tours, visit YokotaFSS.com/ITT. 227-7083 • Bldg. 327