Mount Fuji

About Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san, as it is called in Japanese, is Japan's number one landmark. At 3,776 meters, it is the highest mountain in the country and it has been considered sacred since ancient times. In Japan, it is said that everyone must see the sunrise from the top of Mount Fuji at least once in their lifetime.

Hakone National Park and Fuji Five Lakes
At the foot of Mount Fuji lies one of Japan's most beautiful natural parks, Hakone. The area is full of hot springs, beautiful lakes, and historic sites. As everywhere in Japan, the natural areas are most beautiful in the spring and autumn. Hakone is a popular place to visit as it is easy to stop by if you are travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto. Another beautiful area is the Fuji Five Lakes region, located at an altitude of about 1000 meters. It consists of the five lakes Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko and Motosuko. Here you have some of the most beautiful views of the mountain, perhaps even from your hotel room. We recommend staying at a Japanese inn, a so-called ryokan, where you can eat delicious and traditional Japanese food, bathe in hot springs and sleep on soft futon mattresses on tatami (rice straw) floors.

Climb Mount Fuji During the Summer
Fujiyama is still an active volcano, but the mountain can still be climbed, but only in July and August. We would recommend avoiding weekends and national holidays as this climb is a popular activity. The hike can easily be done on your own or as part of a group arrangement. When you climb the mountain, the best thing to do is around the 7th or 8th station (at 2,700-3,100m altitude) you take a night’s rest in a mountain cabin. You then finish the climb in the early hours of the morning in time to see the sunrise from the mountain top. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to the cabin so you can get some sleep and not disturb the others.

NOTE: Japan is a very safe country and the volcanoes are being watched closely. Mount Fuji is officially still an active volcano, although it has not erupted for over 300 years. However, there is always a risk of activity, in which case parts of the area can be closed at short notice. We ask for your understanding of this.