Mt. Fuji is 3,776 meters tall and is the highest mountain in Japan. It's also the most popular because of its beautiful and distinctive shape.

Scientists have discovered traces of volcanic activity as far back as 80,000 years ago. There were a series of big eruptions between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago. It's been dormant since its last eruption in 1707, but geologically it's still classified as an active volcano.

Its beautiful shape has been an inspiration for countless Japanese artists, poets, and novelists. One of the best known works depicting Mt. Fuji is the series of woodblock prints called the Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji, produced in 1823 by renowned ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai.

Mt. Fuji is thought to be sacred, and people used to climb it as part of a religious practice. During the Edo period (1600-1868), many people hoped to climb Mt. Fuji at least once in their lifetime.