Here’s the consensus on Mt Fuji: it’s indisputably Japan’s grandest peak, though you’d have to be very brave to scale its height to reach the summit. The volcano is only open to climbers during the summer months, so even the gallant thrill seeker who has read all about how to get up there will be waiting a while to make the trek. That said, we’ve got a better alternative for those after killer views without the sore muscles.
Mount Kurumayama, another one of Japan’s finest peaks in its own right, stands at an impressive 1,925 metres tall and stays open all year round. A shrine at its summit features an awe-inspiring view above the clouds, but with a new sky deck that just opened on December 12, you can now get a full panoramic view of the surrounding scenery. If the weather is clear enough, you’ll even see Mt Fuji in the distance (some say it’s better to appreciate it from a distance than climb it, anyway).
The best thing about the new outdoor terrace is that you don’t even have to climb an untold number of steps for the sweet reward at the top. If you can get yourself to the base of the mountain via bus or car, it’s just a 15-minute chair lift to reach the peak. Don’t worry, if you’re keen to show off your stamina, there are three different trails to hike up instead. However, in the winter season, the mountain’s blanketed in snow and is transformed into a ski resort.
Mt Kurumayama’s chair lift operates year-round from 9am-4.30pm. Round trip tickets are ¥1,600 for adults, ¥1,000 for children and ¥500 for children age 4 or younger.
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