Fujiyama


Fujiyama is a symbol of Japan . The highest mountain in the country symbolizes the embodiment of the connection of ancient traditions and modern life principles. Fujiyama has an ideal symmetry, so the Japanese consider it to be a model of beauty. Here artists and poets come to get inspiration, and tourists - to admire the beauty of the legendary mountain.

Brief description of Mount Fuji in Japan

The height of Mount Fuji in Japan is 3776 m. The peak often hides in the clouds, so those who could see Fuji completely, behold the incredible beauty. The outline of the crater resembles a lotus flower. Petals are great crests, the locals called them Yaksudo-Fuyo. The age of the mountain is about 10,000 years, which determines it in stratovolcanoes.

Many people are interested in the question: Is Fujiama an active or extinct volcano ? To date, it does not represent a seismic threat, while it refers to the weakly active, that is, the sleeper. Despite this, the mountain serves as an object of tourism and religious pilgrimage, which is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of people. But at the same time, every Tokyo resident knows the fact that after the last eruption of Fujiyama, in 1707, the city was covered with a fifteen-centimeter layer of ash. Therefore, the volcano is under the close attention of scientists.

How is "Fujiyama" translated?

Surprisingly, the mystery of the name of the world-famous mountain is still not completely revealed. According to modern Japanese hieroglyphs, "fujiam" means "abundance" and "wealth." But hardly such an interpretation took place 10 thousand years ago. The chronicle, dating from the 10th century, indicates that the name of the mountain means "immortality", which, according to many scientists, is closer to the truth.

Tourism in Fujiyama

The island with Fujiyama - Honshu - is the largest, belonging to the Japanese archipelago, so there are always a lot of guests from other countries. And the volcano itself is known as a tourist object far beyond its homeland. In addition, Buddhists and Shintoists often visit the mountain, as there is a large dip on the western slope, around which many religious buildings are located. To them stretches from the very bottom a wide path, along which tens of thousands of pilgrims annually pass.

The most convenient and safe period for the ascent to Fujiyama are the months of July and August, because the rest of the time the mountain is covered with snow, and mass tourism is not available. The entire tourist season at Fuji is a rescue service, and also open mountain lodges, which are called Yamagoya. They can relax on comfortable sleeping shelves, have a snack, buy food and drinks.

The ascent to Fujiyama can take one of the four main routes: Kawaguchiko, Subasiri, Gothemba and Fujinomiya. These routes are of medium complexity, since they start from the fifth level of the mountain. There are also four routes that originate at the very foot - Murayama, Yoshida, Suyama and Shodziko. They last longer than the previous ones and are designed for more prepared tourists.

Climbing a volcano does not have to be a long one. On the northern slope of the mountain there is a toll motorway. It runs buses. They bring tourists to a large parking lot, where there are many restaurants and cafes, as well as a mall. And from there you can make an ascent to the top of Fujiyama, which can take from three to eight hours depending on the route chosen.

Flights over Fuji

Paragliding from the top of Fujiyama is an entertainment that not everyone can do. First, weather conditions do not always contribute to a safe flight. Often athletes and tourists are returned to the bottom when they have already dressed the costumes and have been instructed. This is due to sudden gusts of wind that can appear suddenly. Secondly, in order to fly over the volcano, you need to wake up at night and arrive early in the morning. But the sight that can be seen during the flight is worth all the difficulties. Flew over the forest at the foot of Mount Fujiyama, you can appreciate all the beauty of not only the mountain itself, but also its environs - the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park . And all this - from a bird's-eye view.

Why is Fujiama a sacred mountain?

The fact that the Japanese mountain of Fujiyama is considered a shrine is not a secret for anyone, but what gives it holiness is clearly far from every European. The volcano has canonically ideal forms, with often a third covered with clouds. Sacred meaning has always been attached to this. The effect is enhanced by a path at an altitude of 2500 m, bordering the mountain. Pilgrims are sure that it points to the path to another world.

According to the ancient legend of Fujiyama, the crater is considered the forge of the fire god Ainu. Of course, distant ancestors could not even know what a volcano is, and in another way the lava bubbling with subsequent eruptions could not explain. One way or another, for thousands of years people who profess Buddhism and Shinto believe that Fujiyama is the main shrine.

Interesting facts about Mount Fujiyama

And, of course, such an important sight could not but draw on facts interesting to every curious person:

  1. The Fujiyama volcano is a private domain. Its owner is Shinto's Great Temple Hongu Sengen. He received a volcano on donation in 1609, and in 1974 the Supreme Court of Japan confirmed the authenticity of the document.
  2. Until the end of the XIX century, climbing Mount Fuji was only allowed to men. During the reign of Mende, which lasted from 1868 to 1912, women were allowed to fully attend the mountain. To date, most of the pilgrims are women.
  3. Many Japanese companies include the name of the mountain in their name, so do not be surprised if at every step you see signs with the word "fuji".
  4. On the tourist routes leading to the top of Fujiyama, there are paid toilets. This is very unusual for Japan, because all over the country they are completely free.

Where is Mount Fuji?

The mountain is just 90 km from Tokyo, on the island of Honshu and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-i-ju National Park. Geographic coordinates of the Fujiyama volcano on map 35 ° 21'45 "p. w. 138 ° 43'50 "in. etc. Yokohama and Miyamae-Ku cities can serve as landmarks for searching, next to which there is a volcano. Mount Fuji is the most popular in Japan, and her photos adorn all the guides, so finding it is quite simple.

How to get from Tokyo to Fujiyama?

One of the ways to get to the sights is the expressway, on which the road by car takes 1,5-2 hours.

You can also use express buses that leave from the Shinjuku bus station at an interval of one hour. The first leaves at 6:40 in the morning, and the last - at 19:30. The ticket price is $ 23.50. The journey takes about 2.5 hours.

Do not forget about the travel agencies that offer tours to Fujiyama from Tokyo. You can go to the hotel or pick up in another convenient place, the cost of the tour from $ 42.