At 3,776 metres, Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, and its almost perfectly symmetrical cone has been a sacred symbol and an artistic inspiration for centuries. UNESCO listed Fujisan in 2013 as a cultural site, a place of worship and source of artistic inspiration, rather than for its natural beauty alone, recognising the shrines, pilgrim trails, lakes and springs around the mountain, and the woodblock prints of Hokusai and Hiroshige that made its image famous around the world.
The mountain is an active volcano, which last erupted in 1707, and its slopes are covered with lava flows, forests and lakes. The Fuji Five Lakes on the northern side offer classic views of the mountain reflected in the water, especially at Lake Kawaguchi, and the Aokigahara forest, growing on an old lava flow, is dense, dark and eerie.
You cannot ride to the summit. Roads climb to the fifth stations on several sides of the mountain, at around two thousand metres or higher, where the climbing trails begin. The Fuji Subaru Line from Fujiyoshida to the Yoshida trail's fifth station is the most popular, a winding road through forests with views over the lakes, and the Fujisan Skyline on the southern side climbs to the Fujinomiya fifth station. During the summer climbing season, private vehicles are restricted on some of these roads, and the access roads close in winter because of snow, so check the rules before setting out. The climbing season itself runs roughly from July to early September, and climbers now face fees and entry controls on some trails.
Fujiyoshida, about eleven kilometres away, has fuel, shops, restaurants and accommodation, including traditional inns that once housed pilgrims. The area around the lakes offers great riding, with roads circling the lakes and winding through the hills, though weekend traffic can be heavy. Local food includes hōtō, thick noodles in a miso stew with pumpkin and vegetables, and Yoshida udon, notably chewy noodles. The mountain is often hidden by clouds, especially in summer; early mornings in autumn and winter offer the clearest views.