Mt. Fuji

by Cathryn

Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. It is 3,776m or 12,388 ft. high. In Japan the most loved mountain is Mt. Fuji. It is the symbol of Japan throughout the world. The Japanese have a saying which is, "You’re crazy if you never climb Fuji, and you’re crazy if you climb it twice." Thousands of hikers and pilgrims climb to the top during July and August. Mt. Fuji is divided into different climbing stations. Did you know that Mt. Fuji is above the clouds?

If you start climbing from the bottom it is a long way up. Now there are roads that you use to drive up to the fifth station. Then it takes about five hours by foot to reach the top. Do you know that you can see Mt. Fuji from the shinkansen, or bullet train? On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji from 93 miles away.

Mt. Fuji is a volcano. Mt. Fuji last erupted in 1707. Mt. Fuji’s name is taken from the Ainu word for fire. It has erupted 18 times. People say prayers to the "Fire God" at the end of August each year to keep the volcano from erupting again.

As you climb Mt. Fuji, you can see different kinds of plants and trees. At the bottom are farmer’s fields. Then there are bamboo trees. After that come pine trees and then snow fields. Along the way you can buy "udon" noodles for good luck.

I hope you get to see or climb Mt. Fuji sometime.

Back to main page