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Mt.Fuji Climbing 富士登山
Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (or 12,388 ft). The official climbing season is from July to August. Climbing is still possible until the middle of September if it does not snow and take note that shops and huts are likely to close towards the end of August. There are officially four routes for climbing Mt Fuji; Kawaguchiko-guchi route(north), Subashiri-guchi route(northeast), Fujinomiya-guchi route(southwest) and Gotenba-guchi route(east).
Climbing possible to people of all ages. A leisure hike to the top of Mt.Fuji will take no more than 8 hours with adequate stops in between. There are approximately 300,000 people attempt the climb annually. Many tour operators offer both day trips and overnight trips with or without professional mountain guides. Overnight trips are very popular as many would want to watch sunrise at the summit.
Sunrise is expected around 4:30-5:00 during the time of the year. The temperature at the summit and at the foot of Mt.Fuji can be more than 20 degrees celsius apart. A walk round the summit would take you almost 40 minutes.
Kawaguchiko-guchi route
The altitude of the 5th station's start point is 2305m. (7560ft)
Time required to reach the summit is approximately five and a half hours. Although this route is the most crowded, there are a lot of mountain huts along the way. Please be careful closer to the peak on descent at the 8th station so as not to use the Subashiri route, but instead keep to the Subaru route.
Subashiri-guchi route
The altitude of the 5th station's start point is 2000m. (6560ft)
Time required to reach the summit is approximately five hours. By using this less crowded route, you will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of the mountain, but as this route connects to the above Kawaguchiko at the 8th station, please be sure to pay attention on descent.
Fujinomiya-guchi route
The altitude of the 5th station's start point is 2400m. (7872ft)
Time required to reach the summit is approximately four and a half hours. This route is the easiest of the four routes, but it is a little difficult to see the sunrise, in which case extra time should be allowed to reach the summit in time.
Gotenba-guchi route
The altitude of the 5th station's start point is 1440m. (4723ft)
Time required to reach the summit is approximately six hours twenty minutes. As the starting point for this route is considerably lower, please keep in mind the additional time necessary to reach the summit. Due to the fact this is one of the less popular routes simply due to the distance, please also be aware there are only few mountain huts on this route.
Kanda Matsuri
"Kanda Matsuri" (神田祭り) held every year in May(The Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th) is one of the most famous festivals of Tokyo, it is also ranked among the three largest festivals of Japan. The festival is more extravagantly held in years ending in odd numbers according to the Western calendar, and the festivals held in even-numbered years are much smaller in scale. The rule to change the scale of the festival in alternate years was decided by the Shogun in the Edo Period. Kanda, the venue of the festival, was formerly the central quarter of Edo (present-day Tokyo) back in the Edo Period.
The main attraction well worth viewing in odd-numbered years is the parade on the Saturday, when some 300 people march through central Tokyo districts such as Kanda, Nihombashi, Otemachi, Marunouchi, and so on. In addition to the portable shrines with a phoenix decorated on the roof there are all kinds of floats, and Shinto priests mounted on horseback line up in rows, producing a spectacular sight. On the Sunday, almost 100 small and large portable shrines gather from each quarter.
花見 Hanami
"Hanami" (花見 flower viewing in Japanese) is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers; which is often refered to "Sakura" flower (桜 cherry blossoms in Japanese) and is also the national flower of Japan.
There are hundreds of cherry blossom festivals held during the time from late March to early May when the sakura bloom all over Japan. It is one of the most popular events of Spring. (picture right: a postcard of Hanami)
See:
- list of popular "Hanami" spots in Japan
- list of Sakura festivals in Japan
Fire Festival
阿蘇の大火文字焼き Dai Himonjiyaki at Aso Fire Festival Mar15
The mountain(Mt. Aso in Kumamoto) is set ablaze to form the largest Chinese character in Japan.
A fire festival which is held over a period of one month in all towns in the environs of Mt. Aso in Kyushu. No-yaki refers to setting fire to the plains in order to maintain the pasture grass in good condition and is carried out in a number of places. The main event is the Dai Himonjiyaki which is held in Ojo-dake on the second Saturday of March. On the mountain slope, a gigantic Chinese character signifying 'fire' measuring 350 m appears. The no-yaki fire spreads nearby and the excitement of this spectacle continues until late into the night.
Cherry blossom blooming forecast
So far, there hasn't any forecast released by the Met office yet. The above data shows the average cherry blossom blooming date with the line starting from Kyushu and moving eastward towards Hokkaido. And in year 2007 last year, the first day of blooming (kaika) was observed on March20 in Tokyo, and March25 in Kyoto. The full bloom (mankai) will usually be one week counting from the day of the first bloom.
The Japan National Tourist Organization, JNTO did a very good job by collecting pictures of Sakura trees at various observation points almost every few days and storing them as datas on their website.
URL:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/seasonal/sakura2007/index.php
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/seasonal/sakura2007/fixed_archives.php
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Your trusted friend in Tokyo bringing you all the travel insights.
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Japan travel price guide, travel agents and travel business directory.
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Your trusted friend in Tokyo bringing you all the travel insights.
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Japan travel price guide, travel agents and travel business directory.
Kyoto Winter Special 2008
The Kyoto Winter Special 2008 is a winter promotional event (December 2007 - March31, 2008) with events to make your winter trip to Kyoto even more enjoyable. During this time there will be special admission to normally restricted heritage sites, special winter events such as Arashiyama Hanatouro and Higashiyama Hanatouro.
The city of Kyoto started this two events in 2003 to promote tourism in March and December when Kyoto had much less visitors than the city expected. Hanatouro （in Japanese 花灯路) literally means "Flower and lighted path". Hundreds of lanterns are placed along walkways in Higashiyama(during March) and Arashiyama(during December).
京都嵐山花灯路 Arashiyama Hanatouro Dec8 ~ Dec17
Against the backdrop of Saga Arashiyama’s magnificent natural setting, its riverfronts, bamboo forests, and historic cultural heritages, the 5.2km path from Horin-ji Temple, over Togetsukyo Bridge, through the Tenryu-ji Temple area, and down past the small bamboo forest, will feature combination of ground lanterns and ikebana artwork. The surrounding temples, shrines, and cultural facilities will hold special viewings and illumination events, and there will also be exhibitions of unique art by Kyoto art students, as well as Japanese music performances and mini-concerts. This will be one of many beautiful events in early winter.
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Your trusted friend in Tokyo bringing you all the travel insights.
TokyoTomo Travel Guide - Japan travel price guide, travel agents and travel business directory.
京都東山花灯路 Higashiyama Hanatouro Mar14 ~ Mar23
Higashiyama, with its white walls and trees reflecting dim lights, elegant flames coloring the temples and shops, and brimming with all the charms of Kyoto, will be the setting for the Higashiyama Hanatouro. From Shoren-in Temple in the north, past Yasaka Shrine, to Kiyomizu Temple in the south, 4.6km of walking paths will be adorned with ground lanterns and ikebana artwork are lit up. During this time there will be various events, with traditional arts on a special stage. The surrounding temples and shrines will hold special viewings and illumination events.
Winter events and recommended ski packages
59th Sapporo Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival is an event not to be missed. One of Japan's largest winter events is attracting a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad. Over two million people came to the annual event last year to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures which lined Odori Park, the main street in Susukino and Satorando. The festival takes place in early February for 7 days from February 5th to 11th.
Though flights to Sapporo will still be available, finding a hotel room will be the most difficult task. Most air + hotel package plan will be sold out by New Year or even X'mas, leaving only very little choice of hotel for those who start looking at them in January. Hurry and get your tickets and hotel reserved now.
11th Hokkaido Ski & Snowboard Week
Jan4-14 mark the Hokkaido Ski & Snowboard Week, there will be various events planned during this period. Keep a look out for them and who knows you may be lucky enough to win prizes like complimentary ski lift, free hotel stay or the grand prize for a ski holiday to Canada Whistle Blackcomb.
49th Asahikawa Winter Festival
The 49th Asahikawa Winter Festival to be held in February 7th to 11th. Although the Asahikawa Winter Festival is not as large or as famous as the Sapporo Snow Festival, it does hold the Guinness Record with the world's largest snow sculptures. The Ice Sculpture World Competition is held concurrently with the festival. Though less crowded and much more quiet than the big event in Sapporo, it has a charm all of its own.
10th Otaru Snow Gleaming
The beautiful scence with the softly lit snow candles, lining along the walking paths and with 400 floating candles glimmering on the canal surface. It is guranteed to capture your heart. This special event will be held from February 8th to 17th.
Other events during the winter in Hokkaido;
- Nov22 ~ Dec16, München Christmas Market in Sapporo
- Nov22 ~ Feb11, Sapporo White Illumination
- Dec1~25, Hakodate Christmas Fantasy
- Dec1 ~ Feb29, Hakodate Illumination Fantasy
- Dec1 ~ Feb29, Goryōkaku Hoshi no Yume(Dream of Pentagonal Stars)
- Jan26 ~ Mar9, Otofuke Tokachi River Swan Festival "Sairinka"
- Jan25 ~ Feb17, Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival 2008
- Feb3 ~ Feb4, Noboribetsu Hot Spring Festival
- Feb5 ~ Mar22, Shiretoko Fantasia 2008 Aurora Fantasy
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