Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

144  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

8 Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes
Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes
At 3,776 m (12,390 ft), Mount Fuji (or Fuji-san) is Japan’s
highest peak by far, its near-perfect cone floating lilac gray or
snow-capped above hilltops and low cloud. Dormant since
1707, the volcano first erupted 8–10,000 years ago. Its upper
slopes are loose volcanic ash, devoid of greenery or streams.
Until 150 years ago, Mount Fuji was considered so sacred
that it was climbed only by priests and pilgrims; women Lake Sai
were not allowed until 1868. Today it is a UNESCO World This is the least spoiled of the Fuji
Heritage Site, and pilgrims are greatly out numbered by Five Lakes and offers beautiful
recreational climbers. The Fuji Five Lakes area, at the foot of views of Mount Fuji.
the mountain, offers sports facilities and amusement parks.

Approaching the Crater Rim
At the top, climbers and pilgrims
can visit Sengen shrine, 24-hour
noodle stalls, a post office, an
office for souvenir stamps, and
a weather station.
Chuo Expre ssway

Kawaguchi-ko •
KEY • Fugaku
Wind Cave
1 The Fujinomiya trail is 5 hours • Narusawa Ice
up from the 5th stage, and 3 hours Cave
30 minutes down.
2 The top is not a single summit,
but a crater rim. A circuit of the rim
takes about an hour.
3 Kawaguchi-ko trail is 5–6 hours
up from the 5th stage, and 3 hours
down. Another trail, the Yoshida,
shares most of its route with this one. 5th
stage
4 The Sea of Trees (Aokigahara •
Jukai) is a primeval forest famed
for being easy to get lost in.
5 Lake Motosu, the deepest
lake, once depicted on the 5,000-yen
note, is now on the 1,000-yen note.
•
6 Lake Shoji is the smallest lake 5th stage • 5th stage
and good for fishing.
7 Lake Kawaguchi is the most
accessible and commercialized lake.
8 Fuji-Yoshida, the traditional
pilgrim base, has old inns, and
waterfalls for ritual cleansing
and praying before the climb.
9 Lake Yamanaka is popular
for waterskiing and swimming.
0 Subashiri trail is 4 hours
30 minutes up from the 5th Fujinomiya Key
stage, and 3 hours down.
Expressway
q Gotenba trail is 8 hours up from
the 5th stage, and 3 hours down. Other road
Trail
For hotels and restaurants see p303 and pp326–9

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm