Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain peak in Japan, with a height of 3776 meters. Located at the border of the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, the snow capped outline of the Fuji can be seen from Tokyo. Mount Fuji is the archetypal stratovolcano with its perfect conical shape. Regarded as both a natural wonder as well as a spiritually significant site, the Fujiyama has inspired generations of Japanese artists and poets. Fuji literally means Fire in Japanese, an obvious reference to the fact that it has had several volcanic eruptions over the years, the last in 1707. Nowadays, the Fujiyama is dormant and the Japanese refer to it as Konohana Sakuya Hime or Princess of the Blossoming Trees.
The Northern foothills of Mount Fuji are known as Fujigoko or the Five Lakes Region. The picturesque Five mountain Lakes are Yamanaka-ko, Kawaguchi-ko, Sai-ko, Shoji-ko and Motosu-ko. This region offfers spectacular views of the Fuji . A popular resort area, it has several hotels and restaurants and offers tourists several recreational activities. The Fujigoko is also the starting point for most of the climbs on Mount Fuji. Annually around 200000 to 400000 people climb the Fuji every year. The Hakone region to the South Eastern side of the mountains, also known as Gotemba in Japanese, offers not just the best views but also the best climbs. Hakone is also famous for the number of sulfur springs and natural geysers in the region.
There are ten base stations on the route to climbing Mount Fuji . The best known are Shinjuku, Gotemba, Subashiri, Kawaguchi-ko and Mishima, which are easily accessible by road. Fuji can be ascended throughout the year. However the winter brings snow storms and bitterly cold winds which make the climb difficult for even seasoned mountaineers. The best times to climb the Fuji are in July and August.
