Vacation ideas

Both the Japanese and people of different nationalities have aspired to scale the peak of Mount Fuji at least once in their lives. There are also millions of tourists who embark on a Mt Fuji tour every year in order to experience the journey. It might belong to the category of a dormant volcano, but there is every chance in the world that it might still erupt. So why are there still risk takers who brave the summit of the tallest mountain in Japan?

To first understand that, one must take into account the symbolism of Mount Fuji in both Japan and across the world. The mountain is officially the highest peak in Japan, with an estimated height of over 12,000 feet at its highest point. As with many other well known mountains across Japan, Mount Fuji has its own legends that tell of its rise and fall, and permeates the folk stories of the Japanese. This has cultivated both a love for and respect for the snowy peak in the people.

The extent of their admiration for Mount Fuji can be seen in the many other smaller Fuji-sans sprinkled all across Japan. These are all smaller hills or mountain peaks named after the original volcano. They serve to be an image of the mountain in their own backyard so that they do not need to go on a Mt Fuji budget one day tour. There have also been many origami books that have taught avid paper folders how to create a likeness of Mount Fuji using the art form.

The symbol of Japan also fills the capital's landscape as Tokyo's west side is dominated by the sight of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is said to be very shy in nature as it often hides its peak behind clouds or haze. There are only ten days every year that Mount Fuji's peak can be seen in full view, unobstructed by weather conditions. That rare occurrence perhaps adds to the mystic of the mountain.

A more negative aspect of the attraction that Mount Fuji holds for many individuals is the power and control it has over the immediate areas surrounding it. While Mount Fuji has been dormant for a long time, weather experts have warned that the volcano could erupt anytime soon. Tokyo and other cities in Japan will be devastated by such an event. This has led to many Japanese praying for a safe future from the gods and deities that are said to inhabit the mountain according to old legends. However, Fuji-san is also an enabler of economic well-being, with numerous cheap Mount Fuji hotels surrounding it, not to mention in Hakone and nearby resort towns.

You can tell by Mount Fuji's imprint on Japan's 1,000 yen note that it has a special place in the people's hearts. It is also the most common denomination of the Japanese currency, and perhaps symbolic of the importance of Mount Fuji in the people’s psyche for it to be used in such a way. The life and death of millions of Japanese are held in the cradle of Mount Fuji’s existence, and it is therefore hard to ignore the allure and attraction the beautiful mountain peak has throughout history.