Mount Fuji, is perhaps one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks. Thousands of locals and tourists take their shots at trekking up the mountain every year, overcoming the large variances in temperature and weather conditions.
In this article, you’re going to learn more about this UNESCO World Heritage site and how to make the most out of your journey.
The best viewpoints
Mount Fuji is Japan’s pride and enjoys a special place in the heart of every local. This towering natural figure can be seen from many parts of Japan. The most popular ones are the following:
Lake Kawaguchiko located in the Fuji Five Lakes region, which captures the reflection of the mountain.
Hakone, a resort town near to the edge of Fujisan, and is a popular getaway destination for Tokyoites.
Kamakura, a coastal town located about an hour away from South Tokyo, known for its surfing beaches and historical attractions.
Enoshima, a quaint island in Sagami Bay, which is also a popular summer destination located about an hour and a half away from Tokyo.
Gotemba, a small town near Mount Fuji, known for having premium shopping outlets.
Some other famous viewpoints of the mountain are Fuji Q Highlands and Tokyo Sky Tree.
Climbing Mount Fuji
The climb this beautiful mountain is unlike any you would experience in an alpine or Himalayan pursuit. To climb this holy mountain is to follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims who devoted their lives to this marvel of nature.
Four trails lead up to the top of Mount Fuji – the Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotenba. Every trail has a fifth station, which is the final point that one could reach with a car or other means of transport.
On an average, you can expect the climb to take somewhere around 5 to 10 hours. Note that the average time doesn’t take into consideration your time of rest and break periods at mountain huts along the way. Neither does it reflect a relaxed pace to the summit.
There are also separate pathways existing for ascending and descending for each of the four main trails.
The best season to visit
The official climbing season happens to be during the months of July and August. The mountain huts are in full operation in these two months, but some huts are known to stay open through mid-September.
Even though there are no restrictions as such regarding the “correct” time to climb, off-season climbing is discouraged. This is because the weather of this area is unpredictable 50% of the time and there’s always a chance of encountering high wind, rain, thunderstorms, etc.
The ultimate destination
By now you might be asking yourself why people go through such troubles to climb this mountain. Well, there is no simple answer to this question. Mount Fuji represents different things to different people, be it the locals or tourists.
However, the main reason for doing the climb is to catch a glimpse of the sunrise from the summit. The sunrise is a spectacular view that is bound to get etched in your memory forever. There is no better way to experience “The Land of the Rising Sun” than from Mount Fuji.
