Someone asked me why I chose to travel to Japan in the month of May after the cherry blossom ended. While avoiding higher tour expenses during the April hot season may be one crucial factor, the main reason is that the stunning shibazakura (pink moss) blossom at its peak only during the first three weeks of the month of May after the cherry blossom had ended. I am on a 10-day Central Japan trip and May is the best month to view Mt Fuji in a vast reservoir field of red carpet shibazakura. The annual Fuji Shibazakura Festival which held annually at Fuji Motosuko Resort offers breathtaking views of vast fields of shibazakura with Mt Fuji at the backdrop. There are other gorgeous spots in Japan showcasing shibazakura but it is only at this Motosuko resort that one can view the awesome inspiring Mt Fuji at the background. The entrance ticket costs 1300 yen per person. Our coach driver fetched us from our hotel at Lake Kawaguchiko and we reach at the resort around 10 am. It is really mesmerising and stunning to see Mount Fuji in its best beauty after two disappointing days of not able to see her due to the cloudy weather. Picture tells a thousands words and I was clicking my hand phone camera non-stop. While the weather was scorching hot and the place was crowded, I found myself drowned in the mesmerising real natural scenery. I was in a state of euphoria and my eyes were glued to that awesome landscape of red shibazakura carpet wiht Ryujin Pond and Mt Fujiyama at the background. I squeezed with the crowd to climb up the Garden Tower and the wooden bridge to capture stunning paranomic views of the beautiful scenery. The dotted features of the molehill, the rowing boat, the photo stand added story features to the photographs taken. I was absorbed in this heavenly scenery and photography until one member called me that it was time to depart. I was saddened by the departure as I really enjoyed and infatuated with the beautiful scenery.

After returning from Oshino Hakkai, we booked the same day tickets of 2500 Y each which includes the return bus rides and entrance fee at the kiosk next to bus stop 7. We went on 19 April by the 11:05 bus and some parts of the lawn cherry blossoms have not bloomed enough to cover the whole ground. It was a particularly windy day and we quickly seeked refuge in the Peter Rabbit English cafe. There is a Peter Rabbit Story Trail and the Peter Rabbit English Garden.A new addition is the Pop-Up Book World which provides good photo opportunity. The Yellow door is a photo spot where it looks as if one enters a pink world with view of Mt Fuji. There is also a mini Shibazakura Fuji. The blue muscari flowers are striking when there is a field of them. We took the 2 pm bus back to Kawaguchiko station and the journey time is about 40 minutes.

We reached here after our lunch the Fuji Shibazakura Festival (富士芝桜まつり, Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri). Here is one of the best and most popular occasions nationwide to see shibazakura (pink moss or phlox moss in). The festival is held here at the Fuji Motosuko Resort. It was good timing as the festival is held typically from mid April to late May, we were here on 24th April, one of the best time to see the flowers! The area is really vast, will easily take 1/2 day to go trough all. We entered from the southern Gate and immediately it was the large moss field and the pond. Many of the interesting places are just round the Ryujin Pond; English Garden, the pop-up Book World etc. There's even a mini-Mt Fuji setup made with shibazakura is a must-see for all to take photos! On good days tourists will q to take photogenic photos at photo booth with the Mt. Fuji and bright pink shibazakura on the back! It was drizzling and took much joy as we strolled along with an UMBRELLA. We also did not venture much further as the trail & walk was all damped from the continuous rain.. sad. We took breaks at the Gourmet Area as well as the Shop & Gallery.. There is a restaurant/café and restroom + souvenir store, spend much time here to chill off. We left around 4+ pm, ending the Day itinerary.