Mount Fuji

Shizuoka is famous for Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japanese scenic beauty and one of the loveliest mountains in the world. The prefecture's many charms, however, extend far beyond the spacious plain spreading out from the base of the mountain.

Mount Fuji,is the highest mountain in Japan (12,388 feet, or 3,776 meters). Mount Fuji lies on the island of Honshu, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo. The Japanese call the mountain Fuji-yama or Fuji-san. Fuji has long, symmetrical slopes. Its top often is hidden by clouds. Its crown of snow melts in summer. The Japanese have long considered it a sacred mountain, and more than 50,000 pilgrims climb to its summit every year. The top contains an inactive volcano crater.