Seasons of Yokoyama: Winter
Winters are cold in Yokoyama but usually do not bring frost or snow. Though the north wind can be chilly, the Yokoyama View Point area is shielded from the worst of it by the mountain itself.
The crisp, clear winter air enhances the views from the hillside decks and terraces. The far ocean horizon, normally hazy in summer, is a sharply defined line. On the clearest mornings, even distant Mt. Fuji is visible from Fuji Lookout.
By winter, the deciduous trees have shed many of their leaves, and it is easier to see the small groups of birds that move through the branches together in search of food. Birds from different species band together at this time of year, among them Japanese white-eyes (mejiro), long-tailed tits (enaga), and Japanese pygmy woodpeckers (kogera). Dedicated birdwatchers often use the shelter at the entrance to Sozo-no-Mori, which has a clear view of the trees in the Cherry Blossom Garden. In winter, ospreys (misago) are sometimes seen from the observation decks.
In early winter, sasanqua camellias (sazanka) bloom near Yokoyama Tenkū Café Terrace, only to fall as the season grows colder. Sozo-no-Mori is home to other plants that flourish in winter, including common camellias (yabu tsubaki) and false holly (hiiragi).