Mount Fuji, Sacred mountain in Honshu Island, Japan
This volcanic peak rises with a nearly perfect cone shape and is often crowned by snow even in summer. The landscape changes dramatically as you ascend, transitioning from forested foothills to barren rock and volcanic ash near the summit.
The volcano last erupted in the early 1700s, spreading ash across a wide region. Since then it has remained inactive and became increasingly important in Japanese spiritual life.
This peak holds deep spiritual meaning for Japanese people and appears throughout their art and literature for centuries. Visitors can sense this reverence in the small shrines scattered along the climbing routes.
Climbing is only practical during the warmer months when snow has melted sufficiently. Multiple starting points ring the base, each offering a marked route to the summit that takes several hours to complete.
The mountain casts a visible shadow on surrounding clouds at sunrise, a phenomenon local hikers interpret as a sign of spiritual power. This rare shadow effect is striking when it occurs.
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