Mount Fuji

Introduction

This whole article, as you can guess from the URL, is all about...

Mount FUJI!

It is most associated with Japan, bringing in huge chunks of revenue for the Japanese tourism industry during its climbing seasons, from July to August.

Background information

1. Stands at 3776 metres, being Japan's highest mountain. Almost perfectly conical shaped and is worshipped as a sacred volcano.
2. Is an active volcano, with the last eruption being in 1707, which ended in 1708
3. Took on the present shape around 10 000 years ago.
4. The average monthly mountaintop temperature is -18°to +8°C
5. Stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizouka Prefectures.
6. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in
summer, and in the early morning and late evening hours.
7. Officially open for climbing during July and August via Several Routes.

The season for mountain climbing is:

July 1st to August 31st

The weather is stable, and there is no snow at the mountaintop. Many mountain huts are open, so most Japanese climb in this season. However, depending on the year, the mountain trail may be partly closed in early July, because of snow near the summit.

What to expect:

Late July to mid August

The weather is especially stable, so a crowd of climbers appear every year. However, there may be a regulation on cars in mid August. Restrictions may be seen in some roads. In that case, use a nearby parking area and take a shuttle bus.

Late August

The weather becomes rather unstable.

The Orientation of Mt. Fuji

The easiest way to view Mount Fuji is from the train on a trip along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka.
If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo in direction of Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, the best view of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right hand side of the train, about 40 to 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo.

*Shinkansen is Japanese for High-Speed bullet Trains.

If you want to enjoy Mount Fuji at a more leisurely pace and from a nice natural surrounding, you should head to the Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort.

Final Words

If you're convinced that Mt. Fuji is THE place to be, head on down to:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2172.html
for all your tour packages, accommodation and other stuff.