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Mt. Fuji | Around Mt. Fuji || Chubu Area: Hokuriku | Japan Alps | Pacific Ocean coast
Lake Kawaguchi and Mt Fuji |
A tourist ferry on Lake Ashi |
Mt. Fuji
The most recognizable mountain in the world, Mt. Fuji is one of
the symbols of Japan and at 3,776m it is the country's highest
mountain. Although it has lain dormant since 1707, it is still
classified as an active volcano. Best viewed in winter or early
morning when the air is clear, Fuji-san stands alone and is always
a spectacular sight. It has been the subject of countless works
of art, such as the 'Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji', a series
of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints)
by Hokusai. Many tourist spots have grown up around the mountain and many
of those, such as Miho no Matsubara in Shizuoka Prefecture,
are famous simply because of their view
of the mountain. People often predict the weather from the shape
of the clouds hovering above the summit.
Fuji-san has long been regarded as sacred by some sects and climbing
it started as a religious pilgrimage. The official season for
climbing the mountain is July and August during which some 200,000
people make the pilgrimage, although these days mostly for fun.
There is a saying that every Japanese should climb Mt. Fuji but
only a fool climbs it twice. Certainly the time I ventured up
the slopes the biggest problem wasn't the steep climb but rather
the rush-hour crowds of grandparents and kids determined to make
progress slow for everyone. To be honest, with its surface of
black volcanic sand and rock, the mountain is at its best from
a distance but the view of the sunrise from the summit can make
the climb worthwhile. The summit is around 20 degrees colder than
the base so warm clothes are a must. There is a bus from Tokyo's
Shinjuku station to Go-gome (5th station) on the mountain (2 hours 30 minutes), from where
it's a 5km, 5-hour climb. There are several simple lodges along
the way where you can get your climbing stick stamped and have
a rest or a bite to eat. A 10pm start, allowing for the crowds
and an occassional rest-stop, should see you at the summit in
time for a memorable sunrise.
Around Mt. Fuji
There are many places in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to
enjoy views of Mt. Fuji, such as Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchi ,
Sai, Yamanaka, Shoji and Motosu), Lake Ashi and Mt. Tenjo.
The area is extremely popular for Tokyo residents and gets crowded
during the peak seasons. Particularly popular are Lake Kawaguchi
and Lake Yamanaka, where you can also enjoy boating in summer and skiing in winter.
You can take a tour of Lake Ashi on a reproduction galleon. The
red and yellow leaves of the maple trees make this a spectacular
setting in autumn. In feudal times, all roads between east and
west Japan passed through Hakone and there are museums related to the checkpoint in the town.
The nearby Hakone-Yumoto Onsen (hot spring) resort boasts many hot springs and beautiful mountain
scenery. The area can be reached from Tokyo via Odawara and Goda
using small trains and cable cars which follow a very scenic route.
Interesting souvenirs produced here include Yosegizaiku, inlaid
wooden ware, and Odawara-jochin, lanterns once used to navigate the steep mountain paths.
The Sengen Shrine in the city of Fujinomiya is the
central shrine of a shinto cult that venerates Mt. Fuji
as a sacred mountain. It holds its major annual festival in early
November and also Yabusame, demonstrations of horseback archery, in early May. The cult
has some 1,300 shrines in all, most of which have sengen in their
name.
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Shougetsu Onsen, Hakone Yumoto
 I've been to many onsen across the country, but one of the nicest was Shougetsu, in the popular onsen town of Hakone Yumoto. Hakone is one of the most famous onsen areas, and is convenient for even a day trip from Tokyo. Shougetsu is located close to the Hakone Yumoto station and is a popular spot for foreign visitors, especially as they have an excellent website in English. There is a selection of Japanese and western-style rooms, each with a lovely view of the mountains or the Hayakawa River. There are two main baths, one for women and one for men, though since one is a lot bigger they are rotated to give everyone a chance to enjoy them at their best. When I visited on a weekday, I had the huge bath all to myself. Now that is the height of luxury!
 And the clincher for me was the food. It was as good as I've had at any restaurant in Japan. I lost count of how many courses there were, and by the time I'd settled into the very cool bar next to the restaurant, I didn't really care! And all this only an hour from Tokyo Station.
Hotellerie Maille Coeur Shougetsu website |
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