Japan is a volcanic island nation, and it is one of the most iconic nations in the world. Its landscape is almost unique, and this can make traveling around Japan quite an exhilarating prospect. One place that many of us wish to visit in Japan is Mount Fuji. As the most recognizable mountain in the country, it stands at 3,776m in height. It has become a very popular piece of Japanese culture, but there is more to this amazing mountain than meets the eye. What makes Japan’s highest mountain so unique?
Mt. Fuji is a national treasure
First thing is first – Mt. Fuji is revered. It is one of the three sacred mountains of Japan, and its importance in Japanese culture cannot be understated. If you visit Mt. Fuji, expect to find many shrines along the base and more as you move up the mountain. For those who want to immerse themselves in a key part of Japanese culture, though, visiting here is essential.
Its shape is geographical
That might sound obvious, but the cone-like shape of Mt. Fuji comes from its makeup. It is known as a stratovolcano; a composite volcano that is made up of numerous layers of hardened lava and tephra. This is a big reason why Mt. Fuji has such a unique shape, especially when you compare that shape with other mountains in the area.
Eruptions are extremely rare
Mt. Fuji might be volcanic, but it last erupted over 300 years ago. The last eruption took place in 1707, so it is not exactly going to be a likely hazard to go off while you climb to the top. It is an active volcano, though, so it could erupt again in the future. However, all data present shows that Mt. Fuji contains an extremely low volcanic eruption risk, so you should be safe if you choose to climb to the top!
The summit is a common endpoint for journeys
If you want to end your time in Japan on a high note, climbing Mt. Fuji is often seen as the ideal pinnacle of your journey. The first foreign person to ascend the top of this mountain was a man called Sir Rutherford Alcock; he did so back in 1860 and reached the top in a mere eight hours. Do you think that you could do better?