At 3,776 meters, Fuji-san, as it is known to the Japanese, is a worldwide symbol of Japan and the highest mountain in the country.

Despite its size, Fuji-san is climbed by more than 200,000 hikers every year, including many novices.

Keep in mind that you don’t actually get those amazing views of Fuji-san when you’re climbing on it - those views are from a distance.

The hike & prep

It can be a long slog up a very exposed, stand-alone volcano, where the weather conditions can change very rapidly and get extremely nasty. Throw in the possibility of altitude sickness and it should be very clear that Fuji-san is not a mountain to be taken lightly.

If weather forecasts are bad, don’t go - you’re likely to spend the whole time inside cold cloud and won’t see anything at all.

That said, if forecasts are looking good, make sure you’re adequately prepared and follow all advice received. There is no better place to watch the sun rise than atop the highest mountain in the land of the rising sun. To do so means climbing overnight, which is what a large proportion of people do.