I am currently in the Mt. Fuji area leading my cross country Cherry blossom photography workshop tour.  The Fuji Five Lakes are Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shōjiko, and Motosuko lakes. Over 95% of Japanese have never visited all the fuji five lakes, but you could be one of the elite 5%.  As you stroll the shore, you can see glorious Mt. Fuji reflected in Kawaguchiko, the most famous of the Fuji Five Lakes due to it being on the beaten path.  There is a theme park called the Fuji Q Highlands for people who come to Japan for theme parks visits.  Personally, I know there are some really good shots at Kawaguchiko, and I have some very good friends with shops in the region, but as soon as the hordes of tourists finish breakfast and descend on the lake, I’m out of there.  It’s bumper to bumper traffic and shoulder to shoulder photography.  No thank you.  You could just as easily be in Tokyo.  My participants, group team members, and I are enjoying the over 300 cherry blossom trees on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko watching the shimmering Somei yoshino (Prunus yedoensis) blossoms with the iconic Mt. Fuji in the background wearing its winter snowcap which it will until late spring/early summer.  The natural landscapes surrounding Mt. Fuji include the amazing Chureito Pagoda which by itself is worthy of a photo gallery.  However, when you can compose the perfect shot of the pagoda and the various cherry blossoms in the foreground and Mt. Fuji in the background, you will begin to understand the magic of Japan during spring and cherry blossom season.Yamanakako is somewhat accessible, the largest of the fuji five lakes, and the other three are thankfully not public transportation friendly.  The other fuji five lakes are pristine and clean.  We locals are not interested in the hordes of tourists where we can fish, swim, and photograph unspoiled nature.  They are not set up for foreign tourists nor luxury accommodations and services.  We Japanese locals can also fish, camp, and mountain bike.  As part of my Blain Harasymiw Photography Cherry Blossom Photo Tour, my participants always enjoy the region as if they were locals, and can experience each lake’s grandeur.  To be honest, I don’t know which lake I will photograph in the morning until about 4 am.  The Mt. Fuji weather is fickle in the region.  One lake could be clear while the other four are foggy with no clear sunrise.  As a local, we have a high percentage of getting the golden hour shots.  Lake Saiko in the Fuji Five lakes is another location I enjoy for my sakura photo workshop.  The prevailing variety of cherry blossoms here is shidarezakura (Prunus itosakura), or the weeping variety, a blushing pink contrast to the only faintly pink Somei yoshino.  Each location equals another opportunity for gallery worthy sakura photography, and these are only some of the locations that my participants and I are visiting.  For the remainder of my time spent in the Mt. Fuji area, I plan on adventuring off the beaten path for more once in a lifetime photos.