Mount Fuji

I am so tall that my head touches the fluffy white clouds that drift by. I love the feeling of the wind tickling my rocky sides. I wear a bright white hat of snow all year round, even when the sun is shining warmly on the world below. Down at my feet, five beautiful lakes sparkle like jewels in a giant necklace. From way up here, I can see the whole country of Japan spread out like a green and blue map. I watch over busy cities and quiet forests, winding rivers and neat little fields. People look up at me from far away and smile. They have known me for a very, very long time. Have you guessed who I am? I am a giant mountain, a peaceful volcano sleeping under my snowy blanket. I am Mount Fuji.

A very, very long time ago, I wasn’t a big mountain at all. I was born from deep inside the Earth where it is hot and fiery. With a big WHOOSH and a ROAR, fire and ash burst out, and I started to grow. It was a little scary, but also very exciting. Little by little, over thousands and thousands of years, I got taller and taller with every fiery show I put on. Each time, I added a new layer, like putting on another coat. Now, I stand proud and strong, with a perfect cone shape that people say is very beautiful. My last big eruption was a long, long time ago, in the year 1707. Since then, I have been sleeping quietly, dreaming under my cap of snow. The people of Japan think I am a very special and sacred place. They believe I have a spirit that watches over their land and keeps them safe. They come to visit me and pray for good luck and happiness. A very brave monk named En no Gyōja was the very first person known to climb all the way to my tippy-top. He did it way back in the year 663. Can you imagine that? He wanted to be closer to the sky and feel my peaceful energy. I was so happy to have a visitor and I whispered hello on the wind.

For hundreds of years, people have loved to look at me. I make them feel calm and inspired. There was a famous artist named Katsushika Hokusai who loved me so much. He painted pictures of me over and over again. Sometimes he painted me with a big wave in front, and other times he painted me on a clear, sunny day. He wanted to show everyone how beautiful I am from every different angle. I loved watching him paint. Today, I still have many visitors. In the summer, when my snowy hat gets a little smaller, people climb all the way up my slopes. They look like tiny lines of ants moving slowly up to my peak. They want to see the sunrise from the top of Japan. I love to watch their faces light up when the sun peeks over the horizon and says, "Good morning." I am a symbol of beauty and strength for Japan. I hope that one day, you can come and see my snowy hat for yourself and feel the peaceful wind at my peak.