Unsure what to expect and feeling out of my comfort zone — I'd never even been to Japan before last week — I attended my first ever Fuji Rock Festival with a mixture of excitement, intrigue and apprehension — how would it compare to the dozens of festivals I had been to in Britain, Europe and the United States?
I'd previously spent hours studying the official website and other Internet forums (geek alert!), but no amount of research can fully prepare you for what awaits and if first impressions count, then Fuji won me over quicker than you can say, "How do you use these chopsticks again?"
Upon arriving early Friday afternoon, the stunning mountain backdrop was as jaw-dropping as I was told, even if the altitude results in extreme weather that can change from glorious sunshine one moment to tropical thunderstorm the next — make sure you're fully kitted out for the rain and, unlike this idiot, that your waterproof jacket is actually waterproof.