A meizanologist's diary (90)

2 December: after days of rain, the sky is clear. But too late for us; time's up – we are driving to the station. When suddenly the Sensei exclaims, “Ah, Hakusan da!"

By chance, this street happens to line up exactly on the mountain, which rises there like a gigantic snowcrest, so that we are heading straight towards it.

“The only mountains I know that display this flawless pallor, without spot or shadow,” says the Hyakumeizan author, “are Hiuchi and Hakusan in Kaga Province.” The snowcrest in front of us bears out his words. Just in time for winter, our white mountain is restored to us.