Page:TASJ-1-3.djvu/240

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to Numazu. This latter is a small seaport of the Pacific situated on the bay of Suruga, from which fish is sent to Kōfu and the adjoining country.

The first part of this road is through the plain, from Kōfu to Izawa (1 ri 18). From this point it enters the mountains by ascents which are rather easy as far as the pass called “Dyurozake,” which leads to the village of Tonaki (4 ri).

On leaving this place you climb very streep ascents without interruption, called the pass of Mizakatôge, from the summit of which you enjoy a magnificent view of Fusi-Yama and of the little lake of Kawaguchi at the foot of the pass. You redescend by gradual slopes to the little village of Kawaguchi situated at the border of the lake of the same name.

The pass of Mizaka is one of the most difficult to climb, but one of the most interesting, in the centre of the island of Nippon.

Lake Kawaguchi is about 1 or 2 ri (in length), and stellar in form. It is sustained by a torrent coming from the pass of Mizaka; has no visible outlet, and does not seem to discharge its waters anywhere. Here is found however the masu, an excellent kind of salmon, which is generally found only in rivers communicating with the sea. There are eight lakes of the same kind aronnd Fuji-Yama, the greater part of which have no visible outlet.

From Kawaguchi to Subashiri.—On leaving Kawaguchi the route follows the bank of the lake; this is also traversable in a boat. All this passage is charming.

Hence to Kamijoshda, a large market town at the foot of Fuji-Yama. Thence to Yamanaka, on the border of a little lake Mikkazuki which latter resembles, in shape, as its Japanese name indicates, a crescent of the moon. At length, one ri from Subashiri, one descends a rather steep pass, and finds oneself at the foot of Fuji-Yama and the point.

The huge wastelands which stretch between Kawaguchi and Subashiri are generally rather montonous. One