Mount Fuji is a symbol of Japan and is one of the most iconic mountains in the world. It is a mountain that contributes to Japan's physical, cultural, and spiritual geography. It is often shown on travel guides of Japan and it really is a must-see for anyone visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan is an easy (but expensive) country to visit and there are some things that one should do to prepare for a visit to Japan. Another important part of exploring Japan is to visit the utterly stunning historic city of Kyoto in Japan. During World War Two, America was going to nuke Kyoto first, but it was saved by the personal intervention of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson because of the city's beauty and heritage.
About The Volcano, Mount Fuji
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Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan towering some 3,776 meters or 12,380 feet and is an active volcano. It hasn't erupted for 300 years so people don't need to be too worried about it erupting while there!
- Height: 3,776 Meters or 12,380 Feet
- Type: Active Stratovolcano
- Last Erupted: From 1707 to 1708
- Located: Around 100 KM or 62 Miles From Tokyo (Visible On Clear Days)
Japan famously sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and Mount Fuji arises from a "triple junction" of tectonic plates - the Amurian Plate, the Okhotsk Plate, the Filipino Plate. Mount Fuji is only around 100 kilometers or 62 miles from Tokyo and on a clear day, one can even see it from Tokyo.
- Spelling In Japanese: 富士山
The largest time it erupted was in 1707 and at that time volcanic ash fell on Tokyo.
Mount Fuji's Significance And Popularity
Today Mount Fuji is the single most popular tourist site in Japanese and it is popular with both Japanese and foreign tourists. Over 200,000 people climb up the summit annually with various "huts" en route providing refreshments and rest to the climbers. Many start the climb at night to be at the summit by the morning.
- Climbers: 200,000 Summit Mount Fuji Annually
Mount Fuji is one of the most sacred mountains in Japan and has been a sacred site for Shinto (the indigenous faith or spirituality of Japan) practitioners since the 7th century. There are many Shinto shrines dots Mount Fuji. It is one of Japan's three Holy Mountains.
- Listed: As A World Heritage Site As A Cultural Site in 2013
Many have watched Tom Cruise's 2003 movie The Last Samurai and were mesmerized by the beauty of Japan and of Mount Fuji in the movie. However, the movie was filmed in New Zealand and the mountain shown in the movie is not Mount Fuji but Mount Taranaki of New Zealand. The movie is a fictional and romantic telling of Japan in the 1890s - in truth the Samuari always fought with firearms.
While the ski fields around Mount Fuji are small, skiing here is worth it because it's Mount Fuji! Most of the skiing is not actually on the mountain but is right next to Mount Fuji where one can ski with awe-inspiring views of the iconic mountain.
Fujiten Snow Resort in Mt. Fuji
Fujiten Snow Resort has 7 courses and 4 lifts. The Downhill's course is popular for advanced skiers with other slopes good for beginners. The angles range from 32 degrees to 10 degrees. The resort is small but it is a fun and enjoyable taste of skiing in Japan.
Rental Ski Set:
- One day: ￥4,500 ($40)
- Half-day: ￥3,000 ($27)
- Season: Middle December to Early April
Hours:
- Weekdays: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
- Weekends & Holidays: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Night Skiing: 4.00 pm to 9.30 pm
Lift Tickets Per Day:
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- Adult Lift Ticket: 4,000yen ($35)
- Junior Lift Ticket: 3,000yen ($27)
- Senior Lift Ticket: 3,000yen ($27)
- Longest Run: 1,500 Meters
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Difficulty: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 15%
Yeti Resort
Another small ski resort at the base of Mount Fuji is Yeti Resort. it is set at an altitude of between 1,300 and 1450 meters with slopes ranging from 11-degree angles to 25-degree angles. The admission ticket at Yeti includes access for the day to the ski lifts.
- Difficulty: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 10%
The small resort has a restaurant with a delicious menu. The cuisine is Japanese food, one can see their menu online - it's half translated into English but otherwise in Japanese but the menu has plenty of helpful pictures.
One Day Ticket:
- Weekends And Public Holidays: 4,000 Yen ($35)
- Weekdays: 3,500 Yen ($31)
- Night Skiing: 2,500 ($22) (Sold From 3.30 PM)
- Admission Ticket: 1,300 ($12)
Mount Fuji is one of the most recognizable mountains in the world. Go in the summer and be sure to submit the mountain, go in the winter and ski around the mountain. In the summer the mountain is snow-free, but in the winter is it stunning and snowcapped.
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