Mt. Fuji
They call it Fuji-san, but to me it felt more like Fuji-sama—the kind of mountain you bow to instinctively, even if you’re not the bowing type. Rising 3,776 meters into the sky about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, Mount Fuji is more than Japan’s tallest peak—it’s a symbol, a muse, and for centuries, a sacred pilgrimage site.
You can spot her snow-capped cone from Tokyo on a clear day, but up close, she’s all the more breathtaking. As one of Japan’s “Three Sacred Mountains” (Sanreizan), Fuji has drawn poets, monks, and modern hikers alike, each seeking something—enlightenment, Instagram likes, or maybe just bragging rights. And yes, she’s technically still an active volcano, though she hasn’t erupted since 1707. (Let’s hope she stays in her Zen phase a little longer.)
There’s something magnetic about Fuji. Maybe it’s the perfect symmetry of her slopes. Maybe it’s the way she seems to float above the clouds. Or maybe it’s the quiet hum of history and spirituality in the air as you approach. Whatever it is, you don’t just see Fuji, you feel her.
I left the station in Kyoto and settled into my seat, the train humming softly as it slipped past rice fields and quiet towns. Somewhere between sips of vending machine coffee and stolen glances at my phone, I saw it—Fuji. Rising in the distance, its perfect cone breaking through the haze like a painting come to life. For a moment, the entire carriage seemed to hold its breath. It wasn’t just beautiful—it was otherworldly, the kind of sight that makes you forget everything else and simply stare.
Panoramic Ropeway
The Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway ascends 400 meters from the eastern shore of Lake Kawaguchik to an observation deck near the peak of Mount Tenjo. From the observation deck, which sits more than 1000 meters above sea level, there are panoramic views of the lake below and of Mount Fuji.
While most visitors take a round trip on the ropeway, there is also a hiking trail from the observation deck down the forested mountain slope which takes about 30 minutes to descend. A different trail leads from the observation point 300 meters uphill to a small shrine at the summit of Mount Tenjo, from there the trail continues on to Mount Mitsutoge, a popular day hike with good views of Mount Fuji.
Mount Fuji isn’t just a mountain—it’s a presence, a quiet force that feels almost alive. For over a thousand years, pilgrims have climbed its graceful slopes, believing each step brings them closer to the divine. Its perfect symmetry rises like a dream against the sky, shifting in mood and color with every season and sunrise—snow-crowned and serene in winter, dark and mysterious in summer. Legends whisper through its forests, carried on winds that seem to hum with ancient prayers. Standing in its shadow, there’s a stillness that wraps around you, a sense that you’re not just looking at Fuji, you’re meeting it.
