The most beautiful natural sites to discover Mount Fuji - Fuji-San

The five lakes are located on the north slope of Fuji-san. The region, very forested, is particularly beautiful in the autumn. Throughout the year, the five lakes accumulate tourist potential: fishing on line or in ice (wakasagi), skating, canoeing, etc. Those who would like to hike will be able to take a card with tourist information offices.

The five lakes (Stayokay, Kawaguchi, Sai, Shoji and Motosu) each have their own charm and vie for their view on Fuji-san. For this, the most famous is Kawaguchi lake.

Yet many Japanese agree that the most beautiful lakes are small, including Lake Shōji. The ténébreuse beauty of its waters gives it a poetic atmosphere. Motosu Lake is the only one not to freeze in winter because of the depth of its waters. It is appreciated des in summer. It is also possible to visit caves of volcanic origin (Narusawa and Fugaku), northwest of Sai-Ko Lake. D'Eboshi-san (a good hour and a half walk from the road), a beautiful sea view of the Tree of Fuji (Aokigahara-jukai) is available to all those who come to this point.

It is possible to attempt the ascent of Mount Fuji, with proper equipment and information. From the base of the volcano to the top of the mountain, the route is marked by ten stages(gō). Most climbers use the route that takes them directly to the fourth or even fifth stage. The ascent from the fifth stage takes between 4 or 5 hours and the descent between 2 or 3 hours. Once at the top, a trip around the crater (1 hour) is to be expected. Many people climb Japan's sacred mountain in the hope of seeing the cloudless goraikō (sunrise). To get there, climbers will have a choice of six marked trails.

On the northern flank, the Kawaguchiko stage, which stands at 2,305 meters, which is reached by starting from the town of Kawaguchi. This stage is especially appreciated by climbers coming from Tokyo.

Still on the northern flank, the Yoshida trail starts lower at Fuji-Yoshida. It is on this trail that the Sengen-Jinja Shrine is located. The road up to the shrine is lined with inns set back about 50 meters from the road. Each of these inns has a garden with small waterfalls from the mountain. It is also possible to go to the shrine by bus from Fuji-Yoshida Station to Sengen-jinja-mae stop (5 minutes) or by foot from the station (15 minutes). It is best to ask for a map at the Fuji-Yoshida tourist information office.

The Subashiri trail is at 1,980 meters and crosses the Yoshida trail after the eighth station. From Subashiri, buses lead to the fifth stop.

The Gotemba Trail, which starts from Gotemba and whose fifth station is at 1,440 meters, offers one of the longest routes because the station is the lowest. Buses lead to the fifth station.

Fujinomiya Trail, which starts from Fujiyomiya and with its fifth station at 2,380 meters, is mostly suitable for climbers from Nagoya and Kansai.

The Shōji trail, starts from Akaike, on the shores of Lake Shōji, in the northwest. It is 12.5 km long and crosses the Aokigahara forest, passes near the Omurosan in a lava tunnel called Fuji fuketsu. The crater of Mount Fuji, the Nai in, has a circular shape of 600 meters in diameter and a depth of about 100 meters. On the crest, there are eight peaks: Mishima dake, Komaga dake, Joju dake, Izu dake, Dainichi dake, Kusushi dake, Hakusan dake and finally Kenga mine. Two tracks allow to make the tour of the crater.