[Yamanashi] Learn about the history and culture of Mt. Fuji

At the foot of Mt.Fuji, the highlight of Lake Kawaguchiko sightseeing is Mt.Fuji. With an altitude of 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013, and since then has become one of Japan's leading tourist spots, attracting many tourists from all over the world. This time, we will introduce the history of Japan's highest mountain, Mt. Fuji, and the background of its registration as a World Heritage Site.

How was "Mt. Fuji" created?

Until about 5 million years ago, "Mt. Fuji" did not yet exist and was under the sea. Of course, there are no Fuji Five Lakes. Approximately 200,000 to 100,000 years ago, the Komitake and Ashitaka volcanoes began to be active, and then a new volcano "Furu-Fuji volcano" began to emit smoke on the flank of the Komitake volcano. After undergoing hundreds of eruptions and repeated collapses, the "Old Fuji Volcano" covered most of Mt. Komitake and the northern half of Mt. ) began to grow. After many more eruptions, around 3000 years ago, "New Mt. Fuji", which is the prototype of the current Mt. Fuji, was completed. Since then, it has repeatedly erupted, and since the "Hoei eruption" in about 1707, the volcanic activity has stopped and continues to this day.

"History of Mount Fuji" as a "volcano"

"Mt. Fuji" is an active volcano with a history of repeated large eruptions in the past, although there is currently no major volcanic activity. Volcanic activity took place from before 800 AD to 1707. Among them, the ``Enryaku Daifunka 800-802'' and the ``Jogan eruption'', which are called ``Mt. Fuji's three major eruptions''. 864-866, and the 1707 Hoei Eruption are famous. The "Great Hoei Eruption" was particularly large, and there is a record that a large amount of volcanic ash fell as far as Tokyo (then Edo) along with the volcanic smoke, and the damage extended to the Boso Peninsula. And after this "Great Hoei eruption", the volcanic activity of Mt.Fuji has stopped.

Before the 1960s, Mt. Fuji was previously classified as a "dormant volcano," but under review, volcanoes with a history of numerous eruptions were changed to "active volcanoes." The volcanic activity of Mt. Fuji is not completely over, and it means that it is a mountain that may erupt at any time in the future.

Were the Fuji Five Lakes created by the eruption of Mount Fuji? "History of the Birth of Fuji Five Lakes"

“Lake Motosuko”, “Lake Shojiko”, “Lake Saiko”, “Lake Kawaguchiko” and “Lake Yamanakako” are dammed lakes created by the eruption of Mt. Fuji. It used to be two large lakes, "Utsuko" and "Senoumi", but it is said that the repeated eruptions of Mt.

Click here for details about the Fuji Five Lakes → https://matcha-jp.com/jp/12168

About “Fujisan Worship” of Sacred Mt.Fuji

Although "Mt. Fuji" has a calm and beautiful appearance, it has been worshiped like a god since ancient times as a mountain that gives warnings to people by causing great disasters due to large eruptions. The Sengen Shrine was built at the foot of Mt. Fuji to appease the wrath of the gods (eruption). In the latter half of the Heian period (1068-1192), Mt. Fuji transformed into a mountain sacred place where many ascetics practiced rigorous training as a training ground for Shugendo, a fusion of ancient Japanese mountain worship and foreign Buddhism. bottom. As a result, the form of worship changed from "yohai", which was worshiped from afar, to "tohai", which actually climbs to the top.

In the first half of the 12th century, "Matsudai Shonin" built Dainichiji Temple on the top of Mt. I came to worship God. In the Kamakura period, Hasegawa Kakugyo summarized the new Mt.Fuji worship as a doctrine, and then in the middle of the Edo period, it became popular as "Fuji-ko". Many people, mainly in the Kanto region, have started pilgrimages to sacred places such as Mt. Fuji and Shiraito Falls. In those days, climbing Mt.Fuji was for men only, and women were not allowed to do so. In the Meiji period, the ban on climbing Mt.Fuji for women was lifted, and climbing Mt. Nowadays, many climbers are trying to climb Mt.Fuji in order to see "Goraiko".

God derived from Mt.Fuji

In Japan, there are historical books such as ``Kojiki'' and ``Nihon Shoki'' that describe events from the beginning of the heavens and earth in the age of the gods to the era of the emperor, and the goddess born in them is ``Konohanasakuyabime''. .

Because she is a goddess with the strength to give birth in the fire, she is enshrined as a goddess of safe delivery and fire. It is said that it was enshrined to calm Mt. Fuji, which has repeatedly erupted.

Influence of Mt.Fuji on "art"

The beauty of Mt. Fuji has influenced many artists, and its appearance often appears in works of art. In literary works, there is a phrase referring to Mt. Fuji in Japan's oldest collection of poems, "Manyoshu," and it appears as an important element in stories such as "Taketori Monogatari" and "Ise Monogatari." I'm here.

In addition, there are works depicting Mt. Fuji among paintings. The most famous one is "Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji" drawn by Hokusai Katsushika in the Edo period. In addition to this, there are many works depicting Mt. Fuji, such as Utagawa Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido", and these ukiyo-e prints were exported overseas and influenced many Western painters such as Monet and Van Gogh. You can see that it has been recognized as a mountain with beauty and charm that represents Japan since ancient times.

How Mt. Fuji Was Registered as a World Heritage Site

Initially, Mt. Fuji was aiming to be registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, but it was a mountain with many climbers and tourists, and various problems could not be solved, so the registration as a World Natural Heritage Site was abandoned. After that, it was the "Mt. Fuji worship" and "artwork" introduced earlier that attracted attention. Mt. Fuji, which is an object of faith and has influenced many works of art, has found cultural value, and in June 2013, it was finally registered as a "World Cultural Heritage". Fuji is not the only one to be registered as a World Heritage Site. The official name of Mt. Fuji registered as a World Heritage Site is 'Mt. Fuji - Sacred Place and Source of Art'. Mt.Fuji and many "Component Parts of World Heritage" with cultural value have been registered as World Heritage Sites. There are a total of 25 Component Parts of World Heritage Mt. Fuji, including not only the mountain itself, but also trails to the summit, Fuji Five Lakes, and shrines and pilgrimage sites around Mt. Fuji. It might be interesting to visit the Component Parts of World Heritage of Mt. Fuji.

Click here for details on the Component Parts of World Heritage of Mt. Fuji → Recommended sightseeing spots to visit together with the Component Parts of World Heritage of Mt. Fuji

Recommended spots to learn about the history and culture of Mt. Fuji

Fujisan Museum

There are various books and materials about the history of Mt. Fuji, centered on Fuji worship. Audio guides (in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Thai) are available to explain the exhibits, as well as guided tours of the exhibits (reservation required). We also recommend the “Fujisan VR Theater” where you can experience climbing Mt. Fuji and the beautiful view of Mt.

URL: https://www.fy-museum.jp/

Mt.Fuji Radar Dome Hall

The Mt.Fuji Radar Dome Museum, located across from Fujiyoshida Roadside Station, is a facility where you can learn about the history of Mt.Fuji Radar and weather observations. The actual Mt. Fuji Radar Dome, which was installed on the summit of Mt.

Please experience the popular "Mt. Fuji cold experience", which is a realistic production of wind, images, and sounds! In addition, it is recommended to visit the Fujisan Museum, which is a 1-minute walk away.

URL: https://fujiyoshida.net/spot/13

Lake Kawaguchiko Museum of Art

The Lake Kawaguchiko Museum of Art, located on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko , exhibits many works, mainly paintings related to Mt.Fuji. doing. Until September 10, 2023, about 40 ukiyo-e prints with Mt. " Lake Kawaguchiko Museum of Art Summer Collection Exhibition 2023 ~ Focusing on Ukiyo-e ~ 20th Anniversary of Lake Kawaguchiko Township / 10th Anniversary of Mt. Fuji World Cultural Heritage" is being held.

URL: http://www.fkchannel.jp/kgmuse/

Yamanashi Prefectural Mount Fuji World Heritage Center

This is a facility where you can learn about the history, culture, and nature of Mt. Fuji. If you install the "Fuji Meguri" guide app on your smartphone, you will be guided in English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, and Thai. In addition, Mt.Fuji "Fuji 360", which is made of washi paper and shows various expressions of Mt.Fuji according to the flow of time of the day and the change of seasons, is a masterpiece.

URL: https://www.fujisan-whc.jp/index.html

Narusawa Mt.Fuji Museum

A museum located inside Narusawa roadside station. A huge dinosaur welcomes you as soon as you enter the museum. The museum is divided into 5 areas, and you can learn about the underground water and magma inside Mt. Fuji, clouds and weather of Mt. Fuji through videos and models. In addition, there is “Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen” where you can enjoy hot springs on a one-minute walk, so be sure to visit it as well.

URL: https://www.narusawa-fuji.com/

URL: https://www.ja-narusawamura.or.jp/michinoeki/ (Roadside Station Narusawa)

URL: https://www.fuji-yurari.jp/ (Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen)

For visiting museums and art galleries, please use Fujikanko Travel's "Sightseeing Taxi Plan" and "Bicycle rental".

Sightseeing Taxi Plan Click here for details ➡ https://matcha-jp.com/jp/11931

*It is also possible to create a special excursion plan just for you.

Click here for details on Bicycle rental ➡ https://matcha-jp.com/jp/12246

Fujikanko Travel

401-0301 3644-1 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-cho, Lake Kawaguchiko gun, Ya...

A travel agency based in Lake Kawaguchiko that offers day-trip activity tours where you can fully enjoy the great nature at the foot of Mt....

Mt.Fuji is not only a volcano, but also a very historical mountain in Japanese culture and art. When you go sightseeing around Mt. Fuji, it is recommended not only to impress the majestic and beautiful appearance of Mt. Fuji, but also to learn about the history and culture of Mt. Fuji at the facilities introduced this time.