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After the longest wait for snow since records began 130 years ago, snow has returned to Japan’s iconic Mt Fuji. .jpg)
Intro
Mt Fuji is much more than a mountain. It’s a national treasure. An icon. A symbol of Japan. A volcano and the country’s highest peak, Fuji-san (as the mountain is known in Japan) can be seen from Tokyo on a clear day and is one of the most famous sights in all of Japan. It’s an unmissable destination for millions of travellers, especially climbers and walkers, but also anyone who wants to gaze in wonder at its majesty. This year, Mt Fuji made the news for a slightly unusual reason - the lack of snow on its peak as winter approaches. Thankfully, snow has finally returned, as confirmed recently by the Japan Meteorological Association, and this was met with joyous scenes across Japan and worldwide. As we said, Fuji-san is much more than just a mountain! This also happened to be the longest wait for snow on the peak of Mt Fuji for more than 130 years (since records began) so it was definitely a cause for celebration. At JRPass.com, we decided this was a great reason to take a closer look at this iconic mountain and how you can get there (and view it with your own eyes) while exploring the country with a Japan Rail Pass.
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Meet Fuji-san
Formed around 100,000 years ago, Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 135 kilometres southwest of Tokyo and is the country’s tallest peak at 3,776 metres. Mt Fuji has been a pilgrimage site for centuries and is regarded as one of Japan’s three sacred mountains. As a place of worship, Mt Fuji was associated with religious ascetic Hasegawa Kakugyo who is believed to have reached the summit of the mountain more than 100 times in his lifetime between 1541–1646. This inspired Fuji-ko, a religion of mountain worshippers. In centuries past, it was also a treasured destination for shugenja, practitioners of the mountain faith known as Shugendo. Today, between 200,000 and 300,000 people attempt to climb it every year. Its fame and popularity throughout history, its unique geography, and its iconic look has also inspired countless works of art, most famously in Edo Period prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige.
The mountain is located on the island of Honshu, between the prefectures of Yamanashi and Shizouka. As a result, almost every aspect of the mountain offers an impressive view. It also means that the mountain is easily accessible by trains from multiple destinations. For travellers looking for the most efficient route, the Kawaguchiko Train Station can be found just outside of the base. Many hikers make use of the JR Pass in order to minimise their spending, as well as decrease the amount of time taken to actually travel to and from the mountain.
The most popular area to visit for viewing Mt Fuji is around the Fuji Five Lakes and the Hakone area. The Fuji Five Lakes area, of which the first is Kawaguchi-ko is great for viewing Fuji up close, the area also is a popular base for climbing, hiking, fishing and camping and also makes for a great day trip from Tokyo.
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Viewing Mt Fuji from the train
We would not be JRPass.com if we did not include this section. Did you know you can enjoy the view of Mt Fuji, even if you don’t have time to stop for a visit. Mt Fuji can be seen from the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Nagoya. Simply ask for a D or E seat when making your seat reservations and it is possible to enjoy the view of Fuji from the train. Alternatively, on the limited express train between Nagano and Matsumoto, just when the train makes a turn near Kofu, a beautiful view of Fuji can be seen.
Climbing and Hiking Mt Fuji
Though hiking in Japan is a popular endeavour, hiking to the summit of Mt Fuji is an entirely different undertaking. Often described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Mt Fuji welcomes hikers from far and wide. As we mentioned above, between 200,000-300,000 climbers visit the mountain every year. For experienced climbers, the ascent usually begins around nightfall so that hikers have the opportunity to see the sunrise from the summit. From there, hikers make the descent down during the morning hours. The total trip lasts anywhere from eight to about 16 hours, depending on the trail chosen. Individual trails are suited to hikers’ needs and abilities, ranging anywhere from beginner to expert, though even the beginner trails offer their own level of difficulty. Typically, hikers choose from four different trails:
- Yoshida Trail
The most popular trail is Yoshida as it is the most accessible from the city. Many hikers enjoy the beautiful views of the sunrise both at the summit and along the descent.
- Fujinomiya Trail
The second most popular is the Fujinomiya Trail as it is also quite accessible. In fact, the trail has bus lines that run to and from the Shinkansen stations. However, the trail comes with its downsides; hikers have no view of the sunrise as the hike is performed on the western side of the mountain. Additionally, the ascent and descent follow the same path, so congestion among hikers is always possible.
- Subashiri Trail
Though less travelled, Subashiri arguably offers the most — a plethora of views, a prime location for the sunrise, and a separate little hike to see Kofuji are just a few of its notable features.
- Gotemba Trail
As the most difficult trail, Gotemba is not for the faint of heart. For hikers up for the challenge, however, Gotemba is the least crowded and. For about one-third of the descent, hikers can literally run or slide down volcanic gravel. The famous volcanic portion of the mountain is known as the Osunabashiri, or “great sand run.”
While the return of snow to Mt Fuji is a beautiful sight, it also marks the time of year when climbing and hiking the mountain isn’t recommended. Due to harsh weather conditions, it’s in a hiker’s best interest to climb Mount Fuji during its official season. For the Yoshida Trail, this opens July 1st and lasts until September 10th. All other trails open on July 10th. During that time hikers can enjoy amenities, such as mountain huts, medical supplies, food and drink, and guided tours. Experienced climbers and hikers, there still are opportunities to make the trek in the off-season. Read our guide to Climbing and Hiking Mt Fuji for more.
Relaxing in the Mt Fuji area
Who wouldn’t want to relax with Mt Fuji as a backdrop? The area surrounding the iconic mountain is as well-known as a destination to relax as it is for outdoor activities such as climbing and hiking, particularly in the spring, summer, and autumn. When it comes to leisure time, the two most famous areas are arguably the Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone.
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One of Japan’s most picturesque tourist destinations, the Fuji Five Lakes consist of five beautiful lakes that lie below the iconic Mt Fuji along its northern sides. Between the lakes are several local settlements with Fujiyoshida the main city of the region. The five lakes are Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Motosu, Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji. Lava flows from Mt Fuji formed all of the lakes at different times by damming up local rivers, with some lakes still connected by subterranean waterways. All of the lakes sit at around 1,000 metres above sea level but are still a long, long way from the peak of Mt Fuji. Lake Yamanaka is the largest of the five lakes and sits off on its own a little to the east of Mount Fuji. However, it’s Lake Kawaguchi that is the most popular of the lakes because it enjoys the best views of the mountain and is the easiest to reach. It’s also the best of the lakes for a day trip from Tokyo. To travel to the Fuji Five Lakes from Tokyo, Japan Rail Pass holders will want to take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and get off at Otsuki Station. From there, you’ll need to use the Fujikyu Railway Line to reach Kawaguchiko Station, the best place to start exploring the area.
Hakone, meanwhile, is located on the south west side of Fuji-san, famous for its beautiful scenery, onsen hot springs, historical importance and its beautiful view of Fuji. The area offers a lot to see and do, such as cruising over lake Ashino, visiting the volcanic crater of O-waku-dani, visiting the Hakone Open Air Museum and of course onsen. It is well recommended to stay at one of the local Ryokan for a night where you can enjoy a hot spring bath, with a glass of sake and view Fuji at the same time. Reaching Hakone is easy, because it has its own Shinkansen station, called Odawara. Odawara is directly on the route between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka and can be accessed from either side. From Tokyo take the Shinkansen (just 36 minutes) or JR Tokaido line / from Shinjuku (about 90 minutes) → Odawara with your Japan Rail Pass. From here change to local trains or buses into the Hakone region. Local travel within Hakone is not covered by the JR Pass so a Hakone Free: Pass makes for a good companion to your Japan Rail Pass.
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Spending Winter in Japan
Winter is a beautiful time of year to visit Japan. It’s typically quieter with fewer queues for attractions, there are unique festivals of snow and ice to discover, stunning winter illuminations, winter sports for the adventurous, plentiful indoor activities and hot springs for those looking to warm up, delicious winter dishes to enjoy, and celebrations like Christmas and New Year. The latter, in particular, is one of Japan’s biggest and most important annual holidays. Winter is also an important season in Japanese mythology. The icy cold of winter is associated with the Shinto concept of purification and there are echoes between the season and one of Japan’s key creation myths about the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. She was so offended by the actions of her brother, Susanoo no Mikoto, that she hid in a cave and the absence of her warmth and light brought darkness to the world. Thankfully the other gods were able to trick her out of the cave using a mirror to startle Amaterasu with her own reflection and they were able to return her to the sky. The sun’s return is celebrated on 21 December, the Winter Solstice, each year in Japan, and is sometimes referred to as The Festival of Light. You can read much more about Japan’s incredible folklore and mythology, including the terrifying Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman) in our Folktales of Japan blog and if you’re interested in finding out more about Shintoism, one of the two main religious practices in Japan alongside Buddhism, then don’t miss our Spiritual Guide to Japan. All in all, winter is a very special and very beautiful time of year to visit Japan and the first snowfall on Mt Fuji this year is a clear sign - winter is coming!
Japan’s Love Affair with Snow
It may come as a surprise to some, especially after Mt Fuji’s long wait for snow this year, but Japan experiences some of the heaviest snowfall in the world - and it’s rather unique too. In fact, the snowiest city in the world (with more than 100,000 residents) is Aomori in Japan, which is located in an area referred to as ‘snow country’. Japan may be located at a southern latitude and often associated with subtropical weather, but it also has some of the highest snowfall in the world. This is due to the combination of cold, icy winds coming from Siberia colliding with moisture from the Sea of Japan. The result is both heavy snowfall and a superior quality of snow - ‘Japow’ or ‘Japanese powder snow’ as it’s called - and it is this unique combination that makes Japan such a special place for fans of winter sports and snowy vistas. With such consistent snowfall, cold temperatures, and spectacular mountain ranges, it’s no surprise that Japan is one of the world’s best destinations for skiing and snowboarding, with Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps being especially popular. With more than 500 ski resorts, from beginner to expert slopes, you’ll have plenty of choice. It’s not all about sports though as we explained above, the country’s love affair with snow is also celebrated in unique snow festivals and illuminations too. The iconic Sapporo Snow Festival is arguably the most famous, but they take place right across the country and they’re not to be missed - both as an authentic tradition to experience and also as a must for fellow lovers of snow, ice, and illuminations.
Bonus Recommendations
Now that snow has returned to Mt Fuji, you might find yourself inspired to plan a trip to Japan during the winter months. Here at JRPass.com, we have a wealth of informative articles here on our blog to help you plan with travel tips, recommendations, and more. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
- Discover more about visiting the famous mountain in our Mt Fuji Itinerary guide.
- Meanwhile, for outdoor enthusiasts who want to scale the heights, we recommend reading our post on Climbing and Hiking Mt Fuji.
- If your interest in Japan extends more broadly to visiting during winter, or snow specifically, then be sure to check out our guides on Spending Winter in Japan and Japan’s Winter Wonderlands.
- Finally, if you want to enjoy the wider Mt Fuji area when it’s green, covered in flowers, and bathed in the warmth of spring, summer, and autumn weather, then look to our Travellers Guide to the Fuji Five Lakesas a starting point.
