Reaching its conical and often snow-capped volcanic peak 3,776 meters into the sky, Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san (In Japanese) is respected, and revered, in a country very much tied to Shinto roots in which kami, or gods, inhabit natural features of the landscape. According to Japanese legend, Mount Fuji is home to the kami Konohana Sakuya Hime, and shrines dedicated to the goddess grace both the base and summit. The steep slopes can scare you for once, but the beauty of the snow peaked mountain is enchanting. Let us know some interesting facts about this revered mountain, Mt. Fuji.
image: lh3.googleusercontent.com
1. Get Ready To Be On Summit
Mt. Fuji located on Honshu Island, is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft).
source: Wikipedia
2. Perfectly Shaped Volcano
Mt. Fuji is an active volcano, which most recently erupted in 1707. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days. It has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experiences great popularity among artists and common people throughout the centuries.
source: japan-guide.com, image: trekjapan.co.kr
3. “Three Holy Mountains”
Mount Fuji is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains” along with the two other mountains named Mount Tate and Mount Haku.
source: Wikipedia, image: upload.wikimedia.org
4. Experience The Best View!
The best view of the mountain can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right-hand side of the train, about 40-45 minutes into the journey. Travelers believe that the mountain looks the best from here.
source: japan-guide.com
5. UNESCO World Heritage
It was added to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Site on June 22, 2013 by UNESCO. UNESCO recognizes the mountain as a part of World Heritage now.
source: britannica.com
6. Origin Of Its Name!
The mountain was first names as Fuji no Yama in Hitachi no kuni fudoki (713 CE), an early government record. While some say it is derived from an Ainu term meaning “fire,” coupled with san, the Japanese word for “mountain.”
source: britannica.com
7. Enjoy In Nature’s Lap
It is said that Mount Fuji is at a more leisurely pace if you head to the Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort. The peak has an abundant natural beauty.
Source: japan-guide.com, image: freshtraveldestinations.com
8. Don’t Miss The Sunrise
Mt. Fuji has a great popularity among the climbers across the world. Many people climb Mt. Fuji to watch the sunrise called Goraiko from the top.
source: jnto.go.jp, image: dartoidsworld.net
9. People Worship It Religiously
There is Sengen Jinja Shrines at the foot of the mountain in Japan, worshiped by the early climbers before climbing up. In May, “Yabusame Festival”, the Japanese samurai performance with bows and arrows on the horse, is traditionally held in this shrine.
source: jnto.go.jp
10. Symbol Of Japan
Mt. Fuji is considered as the sacred symbol of Japan. Its image has been reproduced countless times in Japanese art.
source: britannica.com
11. Climbing Was Forbidden To Women
The first recorded ascent was in 663 by an anonymous monk. The summit has been thought of as sacred since ancient times and was forbidden to women until the Meiji Era that was until 1912.
source: Wikipedia
12. Not Everyone’s Cup Of Tea!
Climbing Mount Fuji is not an easy job! The temperatures at the summit are extremely low and may go down below –35 degree Celsius. It is suitable to climb Mount Fuji only in the months of July and August.
source: mocomi.com
13. “36 Views Of Mount Fuji”
36 views of Mount Fuji is a series of woodblock prints by artist Hokusai Katsushika, and this series shows many different views of the mountain in various seasons and weather conditions. These prints were made starting in 1830 when Hokusai was 70 years old. Above picture is one of the 36 views of artist Hokusai Katsushika.
source: traveladvisortips.com
14. Surrounded By Gorgeous 5 Lakes
The mountain is surrounded by five lakes all around. They are Lake Motosuko, Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Shojiko, Lake Yamanakako, and Lake Saiko.
source: traveladvisortips.com, image: photorator.com, image: www.justgola.com
15. Three Volcanoes In One
You would not believe it but it is actually made up of three separate volcanoes: Komitake at the bottom, Kofuji in the middle and Fuji at the top.
source: insider-journeys.com
16. It Can Erupt Any Day
Scientists have studied that the mountain indicates a “high potential” for the volcanic eruption. The volcano is under the eye of a team of geologists. It is unlikely to erupt with no prior warning signs.
source: insider-journeys.com, image: assets.inhabitat.com
17. 200,000 Climbers Per Year!
Mt. Fuji is one of those mountains in the world that climbers will make a pilgrimage to. It has been recorded that 200,000 people climb to the summit each year.
source: facts.net
18. A Private Property
The mountain is actually privately owned. It belongs to the Fujisan Hongu Sengentaisha Shrine. They acquired it in the year 1609.
source: facts.net
19. Good Luck!
In Japanese culture, the mountain is seen as a real place of good luck and good fortune. People feel calm and relaxed when they see the mountain.
source: facts.net
20. Only Fools Climb It Twice!
Mount Fuji is an international destination for tourism and mountain climbing. But there is a well-known Japanese saying, “A wise person will climb Mt. Fuji once in their lifetime, but only a fool would climb it twice.”
source: Wikipedia
