I'm currently spending a month in Japan, mostly in Tokyo, but with a rail pass, the rest of the country is pretty accessible as well. A couple of days ago, I took a short trip to a park area with views of Mt Fuji. Hakone, in the Kanagawa prefecture, used to serve as a primary checkpoint for travelers to/from Edo (Tokyo) under the Tokugawa shogunate. The checkpoint has been rebuilt at its former site, and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu national park.

Technical details: All photos shot with a 5D mkII and a 24-105L, with a CPL filter.

1.

Very beautiful photos. Japan looks like a gorgeous place, and you captured this well!

Thank you! I'm going to try for some more Mt Fuji area images over the weekend, from one of the other parks.

5, 3, 1 are best in order for me with 5 being way better.

All of these pictures break the rule of thirds and put the horizon in the middle of the picture. I think breaking the rule of thirds sometimes works but always breaking it mostly does not work.

5th is strongest for me but try cropping lots off bottom and making it pano crop and I think you will see lots of improvement.

3 for me has nicest composition but lacks interest on the right and has buildings pulling the eye out on the right. Shifting to the right and anchoring the right with the mountain behind might work better.

1more sky and cloud and less water cropped (zoomed) almost to the bottom of the peninsula would make this much better. It is technically strong but weak on horizon and interests.

Thanks for sharing. Scott

The last one is my favorite if the series. Very nice shot.