Mt. Fuji

Fujisan’s value as a World Cultural Heritage arises from the fact that it has become an “object of worship” and a “source of artistic inspiration” through its magnificent landscape and its sacred aspect. The scope of the Fujisan Mountain area corresponds to altitudes above 1,500m as it is considered as the most important part of the mountain. This area has been depicted numerous times in famous pictures and it also represents the part of the mountain that is seen as the land of the deities (above the Umagaeshiline, top altitude a horse can go to). The scope is the 8 th station and above, where Asama no Okami (Fujisan’s Goddess) is thought to be enshrined. It also corresponds to the view from Lake Motosuko, currently represented on the 1,000 yen bill.There are several reasons why Fujisan (the Japanese moniker for Mt. Fuji) is known as the premier mountain in Japan - it is the highest peak in the land at 3,776m, and it has an unusually beautiful shape. Fujisan has the same striking appearanceregardless of the direction one views it from; a remarkable natural symmetry that down the ages has been captured in song, verse and by famous artists in their paintings. Across the country, many places bear the name “Fuji” as a testament to the great mountain’s influence on the Japanese people. The early morning is often the best time to try and capture a photo of a cloudless Fujisan. Another popular photo is the morning sun just cresting the peak, a phenomenon known as “diamond Fuji.”