Fuji-san has officially become a World Heritage by the UNESCO. More important, the application was not for Natural Heritage but for Cultural Heritage. What does this mean?
It should be kept in mind by the many hikers who regard Mt. Fuji just as the highest mountain of Japan and just want to get to the highest point (3776 metres) in this country. Although the elevation is not so high if you are carried by bus from Shinjuku to 2500 metres above sea level and the course is rather easy (apart from the thin air), foreigners are eager for this trip.
But the World Culture Heritage is not limited to the summit, for example it also includes the Sengen Shrine. It is about 1000 years old and located in Fujiyoshida. Starting the hike at this beautiful shrine takes an elevation of 3000 metres. During this hike, you can enjoy a long walk almost on ground level, a long hike through the woods and finally the desert area. These three parts symbolize the world of humans, the transition between the worlds and the world of the gods. Doing it this way, it is much more than taking photos for Facebook or a physical challenge.
