Man'yōshū · Nara Period · ca. 730

A Poet's 1,300-Year-Old Prayer to Mount Fuji | Nara Era

ねもころに見ればともしみ神なびの山やまなか富士にあらぬかも

Nemoroko ni / mireba tomoshimi / Kannabi no / yama ya ma naka / Fuji ni aranu ka mo

Gazing deeply, my heart stirs with longing— among all sacred peaks rising through clouds, is this not Fuji, peerless and divine?

— Yamabe no Akahito (山部赤人)

About the Poet

Yamabe no Akahito (active ca. 724-736) stands alongside Kakinomoto no Hitomaro as one of the two greatest poets of the Man'yōshū, Japan's oldest poetry anthology. A court poet during the Nara period, Akahito served Emperor Shōmu and accompanied imperial excursions, composing verses that captured Japan's natural splendor with unparalleled clarity. Unlike the passionate intensity of Hitomaro, Akahito's poetry is celebrated for its serene observation and crystalline imagery—qualities that earned him the title 'Sage of Poetry' from later generations. His famous Mount Fuji poems established the mountain as Japan's supreme poetic symbol. Traveling to Yamanashi today, visitors can experience the same awe-inspiring views that moved Akahito nearly 1,300 years ago. His works profoundly influenced later poetic traditions, from imperial anthologies to haiku masters. For travelers interested in Japanese literary heritage, Akahito represents the Nara period's golden age of nature poetry, when artists first articulated Japan's unique aesthetic relationship with landscape.

Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi side), Yamanashi

Yamanashi Prefecture offers Japan's most iconic views of Mount Fuji, revealing the sacred peak's northern face in all its majesty. The Fuji Five Lakes region—particularly Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako—provides breathtaking vistas that have inspired poets since ancient times. Winter transforms the landscape into a scene of stark beauty: snow-crowned Fuji reflected in still waters, frost-covered forests, and crisp mountain air. Visit Chureito Pagoda for the classic view, or explore the quieter shores of Lake Motosu for Fuji's reflection depicted on the ¥1,000 note. The Oshino Hakkai springs offer crystal-clear ponds fed by Fuji's snowmelt. Best experienced November through February when skies are clearest. Arrive early morning for the famous 'red Fuji' sunrise phenomenon.

Understanding the Poem

Akahito's poem captures the profound spiritual experience of beholding Mount Fuji. The opening 'nemoroko ni' (intently, deeply) establishes intimate observation, while 'tomoshimi' conveys a precious, almost sacred longing. The reference to 'Kannabi'—a term denoting mountains where deities dwell—elevates Fuji beyond mere geography into divine presence. The rhetorical question 'is it not Fuji?' creates a moment of recognition and wonder, as if the poet cannot quite believe what he beholds. This technique of questioning one's own perception heightens emotional impact, suggesting that Fuji's beauty transcends ordinary comprehension. The poem exemplifies the Man'yōshū's 'makoto' (sincerity), presenting unmediated emotional response to nature without artifice. For modern visitors, it offers a template for approaching Japan's sacred landscapes with reverence and open-hearted wonder.