Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration
Known worldwide as Mount Fuji, the beauty of this solitary, often snow-capped stratovolcano, towering above the sea and lakes surrounded by villages and trees, has long been a goal for pilgrims and an inspiration to artists and poets. The listed properties include 25 sites that reflect the essence of Mount Fuji's sacred and artistic landscapes. In the 12th century, Mount Fuji became a training center for ascetic Buddhism, which included elements of Shintoism. In the upper 1,500 meters of the 3,776-meter peak, pilgrimage routes and crater shrines have been listed, and sites around the base of the mountain include the Sengen Shrine, ninja lodging houses, and natural volcanic features such as lava tree molds, lakes, springs and waterfalls, which are considered sacred. Representations of Mount Fuji in Japanese art date back to the 11th century, but 19th-century woodblock prints of landscapes, including those of sandy beaches and pine forests, made Mount Fuji an internationally recognized Japanese icon and had a profound influence on the development of Western art.