Mt. Fuji & Yamanakako before Dawn

It is still calm across the lake surface, perfect conditions for reflecting Mt. Fuji (known as "Sakasa Fuji" or Upside-down Fuji)

A swan mills around the lakeshore as Mt. Fuji covers itself modestly with a few clouds

Darkest before dawn, a blanket of clouds hangs low over the lake at around 4:00 am

When no one is awake yet, there are hardly any signs of activity of life...

...Except for the swans

In mere minutes before sunrise at 4:31am, clouds blew over and hid the entirety of the majestic mountain

A swan skids across the water, breaking the surface of the lake

In addition to low-hanging clouds, mist and morning fog cling to the banks of the lake

The swans at Lake Yamanakako seemed most active around dawn, preening feathers, bleating or diving for food

Lake Yamanakako shows a different personality when we are all asleep

Small details are beautiful. Soft moss grows on the side of the wooden railing

Intricate spiderwebs and droplets of morning dew form tiny beads of glassy water

The glassy surface of the lake blurs the horizon in the distance, making it hard to distinguish sky and water

The first rays of light illuminate the fringe of clouds over the lake

Sunlight touches Lake Yamanakako, seemingly bringing it to life as cars zip along the roads and shopfronts begin to open

Despite life around the lake getting up and running, Mt. Fuji refuses to come out and play