One of Japan’s most famous places is the majestic Mt. Fuji. For hundreds of years, and likely much longer, the mountain has appeared throughout Japanese art, literature, and folklore. That tradition continues today, with Japanese visitors and travelers from around the world coming to see the country’s highest and most recognizable mountain. Beyond simply being a beautiful landmark, Mt. Fuji also offers hiking during the warmer months and winter activities throughout the surrounding region.
I’ve wanted to climb Mt. Fuji for years, but despite all my trips to Japan I still haven’t managed to make it happen. There’s simply too much to do in this country! The summit rises to 12,388 feet (3,776 meters), and during the official summer climbing season the normal routes can be completed by anyone in reasonably good shape and prepared for the altitude and weather. All of my Fuji photos are pretty old, and while this is probably the best one I have, it still doesn’t do the mountain justice.
The lower slopes and approaches to Mt. Fuji have quite a bit of infrastructure, ranging from traditional shrines to hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops. I was much more interested in the Japanese architecture and Shinto sites than the tourist facilities. Fuji has been considered sacred for centuries, so shrines and religious traditions are naturally woven into the mountain’s history.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Shinto is the torii gate, which marks the entrance to a sacred space. Seeing one here with Mt. Fuji nearby felt especially appropriate considering how important the mountain is to Japanese religion and culture.
If your goal is to climb to the summit of Mt. Fuji, summer is definitely the most practical time to visit. For scenery alone, though, I think fall would be difficult to beat. I didn’t attempt the summit on this trip, but I was still able to hike around the mountain during some spectacular autumn colors. Trails like this made me wish I had more time to keep exploring.
The changing elevation around Fuji creates noticeable differences in vegetation. Near the lower parts of the mountain everything could still look almost summer-like, with green plants and flowers growing along the trails. As I climbed higher, the scenery gradually shifted into full autumn.
Higher up, the leaves were already deep into their fall colors. Seeing the mountain surrounded by reds, oranges, and yellows gave this visit a completely different atmosphere from the snow-covered image of Fuji that most people probably imagine.
Eventually I reached areas where the vegetation disappeared and the dark volcanic slopes were completely exposed. Fuji is a relatively young volcano, so much of the upper mountain is covered in loose volcanic rock and ash where conditions make it difficult for larger plants and trees to establish themselves. The barren sections were a dramatic contrast to the colorful forest I had just been hiking through below.
On another visit during the warmer months near Mt. Fuji, I came across this massive spider. I really wish I’d had a macro lens at the time, but considering how old my camera was I’m still happy with how the photo came out. Japan is so densely populated that I sometimes forget how much wildlife still survives in its mountains and forests.
I later identified this as a Joro spider, Trichonephila clavata, a large orb-weaver native to East Asia. The yellow-and-black coloring certainly makes it look intimidating, but these spiders aren’t considered dangerous to people. What really surprised me was learning years later that the species had established itself in parts of the United States. I definitely wasn’t expecting a spider I photographed in Japan to eventually start appearing back home.
I also wanted to include Kofu on this page because I visited the city several times through work. By Japanese standards Kofu isn’t especially large, but there’s still plenty to see, including Kofu Castle, Japanese gardens, and some good hiking in the surrounding mountains. One of the best things about the city is that on a clear day you can get excellent views of Mt. Fuji in the distance.
This final photo was taken from Kofu using the full zoom on my camera. Even from that distance, Fuji completely dominates the horizon. After seeing the mountain on several different trips but never actually standing on the summit, I definitely still have unfinished business here. One day I’ll return with enough time set aside to finally climb Japan’s most famous mountain.
