Both the Japanese and people of different nationalities have aspired to scale the peak of Mount Fuji at least once in their lives. There are also millions of tourists who embark on a Mt Fuji tour every year in order to experience the journey. It is considered to be dormat, but experts have been predicting a possible eruption in the near future. So why are millions of people risking their lives to scale Japan's highest mountain peak?
To first understand that, one must take into account the symbolism of Mount Fuji in both Japan and across the world. The volcano is the tallest peak in the country at a height of over 12,000 feet at its highest point. As with many other well known mountains across Japan, Mount Fuji has its own legends that tell of its rise and fall, and permeates the folk stories of the Japanese. This has led to much love and respect shown for the snow covered volcano by the Japanese.
The extent of their admiration for Mount Fuji can be seen in the many other smaller Fuji-sans sprinkled all across Japan. These are all minor peaks that have been named after the original mountain. They serve to be an image of the mountain in their own backyard so that they do not need to go on a Mt Fuji budget one day tour. Countless origami books have also been made to show how Mount Fuji can be folded from paper in the traditions of the art.
The symbol of Japan also fills the capital's landscape as Tokyo's west side is dominated by the sight of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is said to be very shy in nature as it often hides its peak behind clouds or haze. It is said that Mount Fuji's peak can only been seen clearly and unblocked by weather for ten days out of the every calendar year. That rare occurrence perhaps adds to the mystic of the mountain.
A more negative aspect of the attraction that Mount Fuji holds for many individuals is the power and control it has over the immediate areas surrounding it. While the volcano has been dormant for centuries, geographical experts have predicted that Mount Fuji is due to stir with activity in time. Tokyo and many other cities could suffer a terrible fate if that were to happen, and it is perhaps why there are also Japanese legends which have led its people to worship gods and other deities that might be connected to Mount Fuji, praying for their safety and peace. However, Fuji-san is also an enabler of economic well-being, with numerous cheap Mount Fuji hotels surrounding it, not to mention in Hakone and nearby resort towns.
Perhaps the final sign of how much the volcano mountain is revered in Japan is the sight of its peak shown on the country's 1,000 yen note. It is also the most common denomination of the Japanese currency, and perhaps symbolic of the importance of Mount Fuji in the people's psyche for it to be used in such a way. The life and death of millions of Japanese are held in the cradle of Mount Fuji's existence, and it is therefore hard to ignore the allure and attraction the beautiful mountain peak has throughout history.
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