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National Geographic : 1950 May
Contents
Fuji, Sacred Mountain and Symbol of Japan, Last Erupted in 1707-8 Six inches of ash from the huge crater covered Edo, now Tokyo. 60 miles away. Ashen clouds hid the sun, and people quaked in ter ror at the mountain's awesome thunderings. Silent since, the great volcano draws thousands of pilgrims to its crest each year. "There are two kinds of fools," say Japanese. "Those who have never climbed Fuji, and those who have climbed it twice." The climb is hard, but yields rich rewards a magnificent view of the country side and a sight of the yawning crater. From patchwork upland farms growing grain and vege tables, the climber mounts through bamboo grass and forest, traverses dark, desolate cinders, lava, and clinkers, and finally reaches the snowy crown, 12,388 feet above the sea. Pilgrims plan to be on the moun taintop at dawn to admire the goraiko, or sunrise (literally, "hon orable coming light"). Beacon, landmark, and inspira tion, Fuji on clear days is plainly visible to inhabitants of Tokyo and to sailors far at sea. This view is from the region of Hakone, famed summer resort town and in feudal times the site of a barrier gate on the road between the two capitals, Edo and Kyoto, for iden tification of all travelers. Here as elsewhere in Japan every available inch is cultivated. © National Geographic Society Ansco Color by Horace Bristol
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