Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 meters tall, is the highest peak in Japan and an active volcano located between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, approximately 100 kilometers from Tokyo.
The Japanese people consider it their "sacred mountain," making it an iconic symbol and the soul of the Japanese nation.
The formation of Mount Fuji underwent three stages: Ancient Fuji, Little Fuji, and New Fuji.
The first generation, Ancient Fuji, formed about 100,000 years ago, followed by the second generation, Little Fuji, which formed about 70,000 years ago.
The third generation, New Fuji, formed approximately 10,000 years ago. Shin-Fuji now covers part of the ancient Fuji and Kofuji, creating the perfectly symmetrical cone visible today.
Climbing Mount Fuji is a popular activity, with four trails available for climbers: Yoshida-guchi, Gotemba-Noguchi, Suwa-guchi, and Fujinomiya-guchi.
The climbing season is from July to August each year, attracting thousands of climbers daily. Climbers witness natural beauty such as the sunrise, sea of clouds, and starry skies, making it a breathtaking experience.
Moreover, other attractions allow visitors to experience Mount Fuji's beauty without climbing it. For instance, the Numazu City's "Numazu Port Deep Sea Aquarium" displays exotic sea creatures caught from the deep sea.
The Susono City's "Grampark Hotel Susono" offers a large bath with a view of the entire Fuji Five Lakes area and Hakone area, while Gotemba City's "Gotemba Prem/Autoret" shopping mall houses numerous international brands and Japanese specialties with a view of the snowy peaks in the distance.
Mount Fuji holds many legendary stories, with one of the oldest literary works in Japan being "The Takeshi Monogatari," a mythical tale about Mount Fuji and the Moon Princess.
The story's main character, Atsuro, a bamboo basket weaver, found a glowing bamboo with a little girl inside in the bamboo forest. He named her Takenorihime and raised her.
Many nobles and princes tried to win her hand in marriage, but she declined them all, proposing impossible tasks.
The Emperor of Japan wanted to marry Takenorihime as a concubine, but she revealed that she was born in the Moon Palace and that the Moon Palace had sent an emissary to retrieve her.
The emperor sent soldiers to protect the Atsuro family, but the messenger from the Moon Palace used divine power to drive them away, leaving a divine garment that covered Takenorihime's memory.
Before leaving, Takenorihime gave Atsuro her beloved jade hairpin for safekeeping and wrote a letter to the Emperor to tell of her heart and love.
The Emperor was devastated and ordered the letter and hairpin to be sent to Mount Fuji to be burned, hoping that the smoke would convey his longing for Takenorihime. From that day, a thick white cloud of smoke rose from Mount Fuji, symbolizing the Emperor's yearning.
Mount Fuji is one of Japan's most famous and beautiful sights, with unique charms felt both from a distance and close up. Its natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors annually, making it a symbol of Japan's breathtaking scenery.
In addition to its cultural and natural significance, Mount Fuji is also an important source of water and energy for the surrounding regions. The snow and rain that fall on the mountain form the headwaters of several rivers, including the Fuji River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean.
The water is used for agriculture, industry, and household consumption. Furthermore, the mountain's geothermal energy has been harnessed for electricity generation, providing clean and renewable energy to the region.
Mount Fuji's importance extends beyond its role as a symbol of Japan, making it a vital part of the country's ecosystem and economy.
