Mount Fuji
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Island |
Mount Fuji is a symbol of Japan. The mountain contributes to Japan's culture, and geography.
Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, standing at 3,776 meters. It is an active volcano, sitting on the Amurian tectonic plate, which is associated with the Eurasian tectonic plate, the Okhotsk plate, which is associated with the North American plate, and the Filipino plate all converge in the region beneath Mount Fuji. It is about 100 kilometers from Tokyo, Japan's capital and largest city. In fact, the last time Mount Fuji erupted, in 1707, volcanic ash fell on Tokyo. Mount Fuji is the single most popular tourist site in Japan, for both Japanese and foreign tourists. More than 200,000 people climb to the summit every year, mostly during the warmer summer months. "Huts" on the route up the mountain cater to climbers, providing refreshments, basic medical supplies, and room to rest. Many people start climbing Mount Fuji at night, as better to experience sunrise from the summit—Japan, after all, is nicknamed "the Land of the Rising Sun." The sunrise from Mount Fuji has a special name, Goraiko. Mount Fuji has been a sacred site for practicers of Shinto since at least the 7th century. Shinto is the faith and spirituality of Japan. Many Shinto shrines are on the base and ascent of Mount Fuji. Shinto shrines honor Kami, the deities of the Shinto faith. The Kami of Mount Fuji is Princess Konohanasakuya. Konohanasakuya has an entire series of shrines, called Segen shrines. The main Segen shrines are at the base and summit of Mount Fuji, but there are more than 1,000 across all of Japan. |
Japan being an island gives it a an advantage against invading forces but also a limed natural resources. because of this japan became a farming country, so it had plenty of food to feed itself and any estra it could trade off to get preshas ore. despite only 16% of Japaneses land being able to grow crops, 45% of Japaneses families made a living off farming. most of what was grown was rice.
Mount Fuji
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