Mount Fuji, Japan
Mount Fuji is the symbol of Japan and a holy mountain to the Japanese. Most people walk up it at night to arrive at dawn for the sunrise as it is frequently covered in mist at other times of the day.
Visitors can get to Fuji by taking the train from Okazaki to Fujinomiya where a bus transfers people to the start of the walk. Most people get of the bus at Shingogome (the fifth stop) and walk from there. It is best to get water at this stop and also a walking stick as stamps are applied on completion of the climb. Having appropriate clothing for all weathers is important as conditions can and do change on the mountain.
Usually the walk takes around five hours. The track is quite rough and thee are resting points. At the end of the trail at Tori there is a Shinto Gate as a symbol of reaching the summit. There are several ways up the mountain and walkers may choose a different route down. Getting a walking stick with the stamps and bells is all part of the tradition on Mount Fuji.
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