Mt. Fuji, a dormant volcano, is the highest peak in Japan, standing 12,389 ft. above sea level. It is the second most perfectly conical shaped mountain in the world. However, the bottom is so gently sloping that a road was built halfway up the mountain. We went to the fifth station, the highest one. From there we went on foot to the trails.
Some trails lead straight up the mountain, and others wind around.
We were told that the trails leading to the summit were closed, as there was still a dangerous amount of snow and ice on them. So we chose to follow the trail that led to a smaller crater caused by the last eruption about 400 years ago. Here we stopped for a much-needed rest, as the air is very thin at that altitude, and we were all out of breath. I followed a trail over a ridge and saw the whole valley spread out below me. We had to go back down then, but before we left I took some volcanic rock as a souvenir.