Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Japan
© Twenty47studio/Getty Image
Wind of Fuji, my souvenir from Edo. Mount Fuji Day
Around 60 miles southwest of Tokyo stands one of Japan's cultural icons: Mount Fuji. The country's tallest mountain rises more than 3,600 metres above the surrounding landscape, with its near-symmetrical cone covered in snow for nearly five months each year. For centuries, Fujisan—as it is known in Japanese—has been worshiped as a sacred mountain. In the Shinto faith, Fuji is deified as Asama no Okami, and shrines dedicated to it are built within sight of the mountain. February 23 is celebrated as Mount Fuji Day (富士山の日) because the word 'Fujisan' can be interpreted as '2, 2, 3.' Although it's not a national holiday, people often take the opportunity to learn more about this majestic peak. It's also a day to reflect on the future of the mountain, and how it can be preserved for future generations. Every year, more than 300,000 people climb Mount Fuji, and overtourism has become a real concern.
Related Images
Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Mua Caves in the Ninh Bình province of Vietnam
For Waitangi Day, the Pancake Rocks on New Zealand’s South Island
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
At the top of Mount Fuji in Japan. Happy New Year!
The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, made famous by the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter
Hope Valley in the Peak District
Bing Today Images
