on christmas eve, for my regular wednesday date with M, we decided to head over to yamanakako for a different take on fujisan. we stopped in a scenic carpark and drank thermos coffee and soaked up the gorgeous view and glorious sunshine, and celebrated my 1 anniversary in japan.

on the way back, we stopped in to check out these 600 year old thatched roof farmhouses (called gasshozukuri), across the road from the fujiyama beer hall on the outskirts of fujiyoshida. last time i was here it had been snowing heavily and i had been in the country all of maybe 2 weeks. gary and i made snow angels in the fresh snow here (for you snow-deprived aussie's, that's when you lie down in the snow and slide your arms and legs from side to side and make cool wings and skirts in your snow shadow.....).