Mount Fuji, also known as Fuji-san to the Japanese, is one of Japan’s most recognisable features.  It is located approximately 60 miles west of Tokyo.

The Japanese say Fuji-san is their most sacred mountain.  It is actually a volcano and is dormant, not extinct.  It hasn’t erupted since 1707 and is a great tourist attraction.

If you wish to take the climb, it is traditional to set off from the small town called Fuji-Yoshido and it takes 11 to 12 hours to reach the summit!  Most people prefer to be at the summit for dawn and at night, you can see a line of torches looking almost like lava down the side of the mountain.

The main season for climbing Mount Fuji is in July and August and it is traditional to send a postcard or two from the small post office located at the top!  You can still climb at other times of year but the post office is only open in the peak season.

The climb is well travelled and separated into sections by seventeen little huts, where you are free to rest.  You can even stay the night although you need to book it well in advance.  There are plenty of small hotels at the foot of the mountain though or you can reach the mountain via bus or train from Tokyo if you prefer to take a city break in Tokyo.