I (this is Chris) flew to the Sea of Japan (or the East China Sea, depending on your nationality) in honor of my first guest post….but not really. Above Photo: Mount Fuji from five or six thousand feet up. 
Above Photo: Our first glimpse of the Sea of Japan as we fly through the mountains. 
Above: Afternoon sun glints off snowcaps. Our route took us through Nagano and the Olympic Village over this ski slope. 
Above: Finally, the coastline of the Sea of Japan. I can see Russia from my helicopter! Well not really, but Korea: yes.