Japan, Mount Fuji, situated at Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is the highest and most popular mountain in Japan. It has a shape of a perfect cone that rises to a 3,776m (12,388ft) peak. It is a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1707.  At its base, there are five interconnecting lakes. They are, Kawaguchi-ko, Shoji-ko, Yamanaka-ko, Sai-ko and Motosu-ko. In a clear day, you can see the summit from as far as 160km (100 miles) but the summit is frequently covered with clouds.

Poet Basho standing by the Lake Kawaguchi wrote:
 “On Kawaguchi’s shore I muse,
While Fuji, through the changing mist,
Presents all hundred views”.

Indeed, Mount Fuji is famous for its many faces while the Japanese claim that it never appears the same if you look at it the second time.

If you intent to visit the summit of Mount Fuji, you can only do it from 1 July to 31 August. Witnessing the sun rise from the summit is usually the motivating factor that makes people wanting to climb up Mount Fuji. If that is your motivating factor as well, you can either climb it overnight or climb it during the day and stay at the summit for a night. According to the Japanese, to climb Mount Fuji once is wise, but to climb it twice is foolish. Well, this saying really depends on individuality.

The most popular staring point to ascent the summit is from the 5th station (or 5th stage). This station is called the Kawaguchi-ko 5th Station.  It can be reached directly by bus. You can catch the bus from either Hamamatsu-cho ( 3 hours journey) or Shinjuku (2.5 hours journey) bus terminal.  However, if this your fist time to Japan, perhaps it is best to follow a tour group.  From the 5th station, you will need approximately seven hours to reach the summit at moderate pace. The descent usually takes about half this time.

At the summit, there is a Shinto shrine. Accordingly, this shrine is to Konohana Sakuya Hime, a divine princess who is the spirit of the cherry blossom and is sometimes manifested as a luminous cloud seen floating over the crater (1,2 ) .  Shintoists considered Mount Fuji as a sacred mountain and is revered by a religious sect know as Fujiko (1).  Pilgrims dressed in traditional while tunics and gaiters made their ascent are a regular sight (1). Mount Fuji was completely banned to women until 1868(1,2). According to Buddhist tradition, they also venerate Mount Fuji as the gateway to another world (2).

According to the Japanese, the symmetrical reflection of Mount Fuji in the calm surface of Lake Ashi is the most beautiful sight in the world.  You may want to confirm this yourself.