Goshuin number 39 is from the 新倉富士浅間神社 (Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine). It is at the bottom of the hill that the Chureito Pagoda is on, so I made sure to visit it on the way!

Its a short walk from Shimo-Yoshida Station, and the signs everywhere made it impossible to get lost. I saw the red lanterns first, leading up and underneath a large red torii gate. The shrine itself is rather small, but beautiful nonetheless.

After I was done getting my stamp, I headed up the 396 stairs to the pagoda! People on their way down said words of encouragement, and an older Japanese man and I laughed together as we stopped to catch a breath at the same time.

The pagoda is beautiful! It was built in the ’60s as a peace monument.

Today, people just know it as “that-place-with-the-cherry-blossoms-and-Fuji” or “that-place-that’s-in-all-the-photos-of-Fuji.” If you want to take a photo like those, don’t worry, there are signs leading to, and platforms in front of, the spot just for photographers.

The weather on the day I went was clear, but the lighting wasn’t that great. Eh. I’ll take it. I was so worried I’d arrive in Yamanashi Prefecture to nothing but clouds and no mountain!

Close to the famous photograph spot is a trail that leads up. If you follow it for a couple minutes, you’ll come to a small observation platform! There was no one there when I went, so it was nice to get a couple of photos and not have to worry about people getting in the way.

Date acquired: November 16, 2018