Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, rising to 3,776 meters on the border of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, is Japan's highest peak and its most enduring natural symbol. The near-perfect symmetrical cone — the result of overlapping volcanic eruptions — has been depicted in art, poetry, and woodblock prints for centuries, most famously in Katsushika Hokusai's Thirty-six Views series. The mountain is an active stratovolcano, though its last eruption was in 1707. UNESCO inscribed Fuji as a Cultural Heritage Site in 2013, recognizing its spiritual and artistic significance rather than purely scenic value. Four trails lead to the summit: the Yoshida Trail (most popular, originating from the Fuji-Subaru Line 5th Station at 2,305 meters) accounts for the majority of climbers. The climb from the 5th Station takes 5–7 hours upward and 3–4 hours descending. Mountain huts along the route provide meals, oxygen canisters, and bunk accommodation. The summit crater rim (Kengamine peak) offers a 360-degree panorama on clear days extending across the Kanto and Chubu regions. Climbing season runs officially from early July to mid-September; outside this window, huts close and summit conditions can be dangerous. For non-climbers, the Fuji Five Lakes region (Kawaguchiko, Fujikawaguchiko area) delivers classic postcard views of the cone reflected in lake waters. Hakone and the Izu Peninsula also offer scenic Fuji viewpoints. In 2024, authorities began limiting daily climber numbers on the Yoshida Trail and introduced a ¥2,000 conservation fee at the 5th Station.