Nadine Leoncio

In old Japanese tradition, they say you will live a long and wealthy life if you see Mt. Fuji without clouds. Nothing to lose if you believe it's true. All I know is I'm lucky the clouds didn't cover the perfectly-cone shaped Mt. Fuji during my 2-day visit. LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO: The Most Famous Among the Fuji Five Lakes Standing 12,389 ft high, Mt. Fuji or Fujisan is vividly seen even in some parts of Yokohama, Tokyo and sometimes as far as Chiba. Even passengers of Shinkansen coming from Tokyo are able to catch a glimpse of its glorious beauty.  This iconic volcano holds a great allure with every curving line. It  has been in the center of Japanese poetry and art for the longest time. June 2013, the landmark of Japan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Mt. Fuji is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosuko. These lakes were formed from previous eruptions of the volcano. All of which are w...

It was a rainy morning when I walked through the narrow lanes of Tsukiji Fish Market. Armed with a camera and umbrella, I observed how locals and tourists bargained for the freshest catch.  The wide variety and sheer quantity of seafood makes it true to its title, “The Biggest Wholesale Fish Market in the World” . GETTING THERE Located in Tokyo’s lower east side, it is very convenient to go there via subway. The closest station is Tsukiji Shijo Station on the Toei Oedo line . And the next closest station is Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Hibiya Subway Line . From there, take a five-minute walk. When you see trucks lined up in the street, that’s a clear sign you’re headed towards the outer market. But if you’re planning to catch the live tuna auctions, you have to take a taxi. The auction is from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM. People usually line up at around 3:00 AM.  The Outer Market IS THE TUNA AUCTIONS WORTH A VISIT? If you’re a photo junkie...