[:it]Il mio cuore è estremamente legato al Monte Fuji (富士山). Non so esattamente perchè, so che non riesco a non emozionarmi quando lo vedo.

photo credits: animeclick.it

Bellezza spirituale

Alto più di 3700 metri, il Monte Fuji è un vulcano perfettamente simmetrico. Annoverato tra le 3 montagne sacre (三霊山) di tutto il Giappone e riconosciuto dall’UNESCO come patrimonio culturale mondiale.
Questa imponente meraviglia sorge tra le prefetture di di Shizuoka e Yamanashi, vicino alla costa sull’oceano Pacifico dell’isola di Honshū, tra Hamamatsu e Tokyo.
Sacro fin dal periodo Heian il monte Fuji era temuto e rispettato. Essendo un vulcano, era considerato una vera e propria divinità, tanto da possedere un altissimo numero di santuari (i santuari di Asama) e diventare il luogo di allenamento per i samurai. Nel 664 la sua scalata venne eseguita per la prima volta da un monaco e rimase proibita alle donne, fino alla rimozione del divieto nel 1872. Infatti nel 1868 con il periodo Meiji, Lady Fanny Parkes moglie dell’ambasciatore britannico, intraprese la scalata dimostrando che gli Dei non avrebbe scatenato alcuna vendetta.

photo credits: animeclick.it, David Hsu

La Regione dei 5 Laghi

Il Monte Fuji è circondato dal 5 laghi, ognuno di loro speciale.
Il lago Kawaguchi (河口湖) si trova al centro della regione e sulla sua superficie si riflette la parete nord della montagna come in uno specchio. Il lago Yamanaka (山中湖), il più grande dei cinque e situato sul punto più alto è ricco di negozi, ristoranti e tranquilli bed&breakfast dove soggiornare. Il lago Sai (西湖) piccolo e misterioso è quello che cinge Jukai, la foresta di Aokigahara. Il lago Shōji (精進湖), il più piccolo dei laghi, è quello che offre la vista sul monte più suggestiva. E infine il lago Motosu (本栖湖), il più profondo e il meno turistico, è quello la cui vista eccezionale sul Fuji-san è rappresentata sulle banconote da 1,000 yen.
Naturalmente tutti laghi, tranne il Shōji, sono navigabili. Infatti, è possibile fare delle splendide crociere che permettono di ammirare la natura lussureggiante e la pace sotto lo sguardo attento del Sacro Monte.

photo credits: animeclick.it, Daniel Ramirez

Scalare il Monte Fuji: una sfida d’amore!

Non so se vi sia mai capitato, probabilmente non tutti sono pazzi come la sottoscritta, ma io spesso ho detto “per te sono pronta a scalare il monte Fuji”! E farlo non è un’impresa impossibile tanto che è aperta persino a bambini ed anziani! Nei mesi di luglio e agosto si può raggiungere la cosiddetta “Quinta Stazione” con l’autobus della linea Fuji Subaru nel primo pomeriggio, sostare in un rifugio (prenotabile con moltissimo anticipo) e prima all’alba raggiungere la vetta per vedere il sorgere del sole.
Dalla quinta stazione passano i sentieri che si possono scegliere per raggiungere la cima. Il sentiero Kawaguchiko – Yoshida-guchi è quello tradizionale e più frequentato. Il sentiero Gotemba-guchi il più lungo e difficile, il Sentiero di Fujinomiya-guchi o Mishima-guchi, il più breve ma anche meno affascinante. Ed, infine il sentiero di Subashiri-guchi che si unisce all’ottava stazione con quello di Yoshida-guchi. Il tempo di percorrenza varia in media tra le 5 / 8 ore di salita e le 3 / 4 ore di discesa.

photo credits: yamanashi-kankou.jp, Joe Jones

Tutte le informazioni per intraprendere questa straordinaria avventura sono disponibili sul sito ufficiale. Io ho fatto una promessa, perciò prima o poi scalerò il Fujisama, e voi?

photo credits: giapponeviaggi-miki.it

[:en]My heart is extremely connected to Mount Fuji (富士山). I don’t know exactly why, but I know I can’t stop getting thrilled when I see him.

photo credits: animeclick.it

Spiritual beauty

Higher than 3700 meters, Mount Fuji is a perfectly symmetrical volcano. Listed among the 3 sacred mountains (三霊山) of all Japan and recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage.
This impressive wonder rises between the prefectures of Shizuoka and Yamanashi, near the Pacific Ocean coast of the island of Honshu, between Hamamatsu and Tokyo.
Mount Fuji was feared and respected since the Heian period. Being a volcano, it was considered a real divinity, so much so that it possessed a very high number of sanctuaries (the sanctuaries of Asama) and became the training ground for samurai. In 664 his climb was first performed by a monk and was forbidden to women until the ban was lifted in 1872. In fact in 1868 during the Meiji period, Lady Fanny Parkes, wife of the British ambassador, began the climb proving that the Gods would not have unleashed any revenge.

photo credits: animeclick.it, David Hsu

The 5 Lakes Region

Mount Fuji is surrounded by 5 lakes, each one of them special.
Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖) is in the center of the region and the north face of the mountain is reflected on its surface like a mirror. Lake Yamanaka (中 中 湖), the largest of the five and located on the highest point is full of shops, restaurants and quiet bed & breakfasts where you can spend the night. The small and mysterious Sai (西湖) lake is what surrounds Jukai, the forest of Aokigahara. Lake Shōji (精進 湖), the smallest of the lakes, is the one that offers the most suggestive view of the mountain. And finally, Lake Motosu (本栖湖), the deepest and least touristy, is the one whose exceptional view on the Fuji-san is represented on the 1,000 yen banknotes.
Of course, all the lakes, except the Shōji, are navigable. Indeed, it is possible to take splendid cruises that allow you to admire the lush nature and peace under the watchful eye of the Sacred Mount.

photo credits: animeclick.it, Daniel Ramirez

Climbing Mount Fuji: a challenge of love!

I don’t know if it ever happened to you, probably not everyone is as crazy as I am, but I have often say “for you I am ready to climb Mount Fuji”! And doing it is not so impossible after all, in fact, it is even open to children and the elderly! In the months of July and August you can reach the so-called “Fifth Station” with the Fuji Subaru bus in the early afternoon, stop in a shelter (bookable with a lot of advance) and reach the summit before dawn to see the Sun rising.
From the fifth station you can find the paths to choose to reach the top. The Kawaguchiko – Yoshida-guchi trail is the most popular and traditional one. The Gotemba-guchi path is the longest and most difficult, the Path of Fujinomiya-guchi or Mishima-guchi, the shortest but also least fascinating. And finally, the path of Subashiri-guchi that joins the eighth station with that of Yoshida-guchi. The average journey time varies between 5/8 hours of ascent and 3/4 hours of descent.

photo credits: yamanashi-kankou.jp, Joe Jones

All the information to undertake this extraordinary adventure is available on the official website. I made a promise, so sooner or later I’ll climb the Fujisama, and you?

photo credits: giapponeviaggi-miki.it

[:ja]My heart is extremely connected to Mount Fuji (富士山). I don’t know exactly why, but I know I can’t stop getting thrilled when I see him.

photo credits: animeclick.it

Spiritual beauty

Higher than 3700 meters, Mount Fuji is a perfectly symmetrical volcano. Listed among the 3 sacred mountains (三霊山) of all Japan and recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage.
This impressive wonder rises between the prefectures of Shizuoka and Yamanashi, near the Pacific Ocean coast of the island of Honshu, between Hamamatsu and Tokyo.
Mount Fuji was feared and respected since the Heian period. Being a volcano, it was considered a real divinity, so much so that it possessed a very high number of sanctuaries (the sanctuaries of Asama) and became the training ground for samurai. In 664 his climb was first performed by a monk and was forbidden to women until the ban was lifted in 1872. In fact in 1868 during the Meiji period, Lady Fanny Parkes, wife of the British ambassador, began the climb proving that the Gods would not have unleashed any revenge.

photo credits: animeclick.it, David Hsu

The 5 Lakes Region

Mount Fuji is surrounded by 5 lakes, each one of them special.
Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖) is in the center of the region and the north face of the mountain is reflected on its surface like a mirror. Lake Yamanaka (中 中 湖), the largest of the five and located on the highest point is full of shops, restaurants and quiet bed & breakfasts where you can spend the night. The small and mysterious Sai (西湖) lake is what surrounds Jukai, the forest of Aokigahara. Lake Shōji (精進 湖), the smallest of the lakes, is the one that offers the most suggestive view of the mountain. And finally, Lake Motosu (本栖湖), the deepest and least touristy, is the one whose exceptional view on the Fuji-san is represented on the 1,000 yen banknotes.
Of course, all the lakes, except the Shōji, are navigable. Indeed, it is possible to take splendid cruises that allow you to admire the lush nature and peace under the watchful eye of the Sacred Mount.

photo credits: animeclick.it, Daniel Ramirez

Climbing Mount Fuji: a challenge of love!

I don’t know if it ever happened to you, probably not everyone is as crazy as I am, but I have often say “for you I am ready to climb Mount Fuji”! And doing it is not so impossible after all, in fact, it is even open to children and the elderly! In the months of July and August you can reach the so-called “Fifth Station” with the Fuji Subaru bus in the early afternoon, stop in a shelter (bookable with a lot of advance) and reach the summit before dawn to see the Sun rising.
From the fifth station you can find the paths to choose to reach the top. The Kawaguchiko – Yoshida-guchi trail is the most popular and traditional one. The Gotemba-guchi path is the longest and most difficult, the Path of Fujinomiya-guchi or Mishima-guchi, the shortest but also least fascinating. And finally, the path of Subashiri-guchi that joins the eighth station with that of Yoshida-guchi. The average journey time varies between 5/8 hours of ascent and 3/4 hours of descent.

photo credits: yamanashi-kankou.jp, Joe Jones

All the information to undertake this extraordinary adventure is available on the official website. I made a promise, so sooner or later I’ll climb the Fujisama, and you?

photo credits: giapponeviaggi-miki.it

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