LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF

Assalamualaikum and good morning for you all,


How are you today? happy...cool....sad,, in whatever situation I hope you all have a good day and have fun.

Before I proceed to the main agenda, let me introduce myself, my name Azizah binti Abdul Rahman, you can call me Azie or Jaja or Zii either one you can call me, i will entertain :p
My matric number is A11A036. I continue my study at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan at Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, after I pass my STPM on 2010. I choose Fakulty of Entrepreneur and Business in course of Bachelor in Retailing for 4 years. 

I was born on 25 October 1991, and I come from Muar, Johor.  
I love Johor very much. 

My ambition is I want to become an entrepreneur who develop and innovate the product that have in market. Then, I want to fulfill the need and want of people. For my business I want to make something useful for people surrounding not just only gain the profit but to satisfy people at the area or country.



My evaluation for this assignment is this is the different way to do assignment because before this I do assignment on Microsoft word only. This is the way for me. Besides that, I can learn more in how to create a blog for my on self. This is such interesting and benefits for me. Also this can give benefits to people who read my blog in attraction for the interesting places in the world. Then, to attract them in do some vacation around the world and know more information about the country as well.

KANADA

QUEBEC CITY

HISTORY

Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America. While many of the major cities in Mexico date from the sixteenth century, among cities in Canada and the U.S.A., few were created earlier than Quebec City (St. John's, Harbour Grace, Port Royal, St. Augustine, Santa Fe, Jamestown, and Tadoussac). Also, Quebec's Old Town (Vieux-Québec) is the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist.

French explorer Jacques Cartier built a fort at the site in 1535, where he stayed for the winter before going back to France in spring 1536. He came back in 1541 with the goal of building a permanent settlement. This first settlement was abandoned less than one year after its foundation, in the summer 1542, due in large part to the hostility of the natives combined with the harsh living conditions during winter.

Quebec City is located in the Saint Lawrence River valley, on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River near its meeting with the St. Charles River. The region is low-lying and flat. The river valley has rich, arable soil, which makes this region the most fertile in the province. The Laurentian Mountains lie to the north of the city.

Upper Town lies on the top of Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond) promontory. A high stone wall surrounds this portion of the city. The Plains of Abraham are located near the edge of the promontory. Lower Town is located at shore level, below Cap-Diamant.
Québec City, located on the St. Lawrence River, has an Old Town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's charm, history, and architecture has a distinct European flavor. 
Québec displays its French heritage in a variety of ways and the French language is preferred by the majority of the city's citizens.

Be sure to see the Quartier Petit-Champlain, a fanciful neighborhood bordering the Place Royale, the Fortifications of Quebec (several miles of fortifications that defended the Old Town), La Citadelle of Quebec - often referred to as America's Gibraltar (guided tours only) and the Québec Old Port, for views into the history of an early settlement in North America.

Attraction at Zurich,  

Quebec Winter Carnival  

The Quebec Winter Carnival brings Quebec City alive with sub-zero merry-making every year, beginning on the last weekend of January and continuing for the the next two weeks (17 days in total). The world's largest winter carnival, the Quebec Winter Carnival has been a highlight on the Quebec event calendar since 1894 and been giving Quebeckers and thousands of visitors a reason to celebrate during the cold, snowy winters.

The Quebec Winter Carnival takes place at the end of January to mid-February every year.

History,

The Quebec Winter Carnival began when the habitants of New France, now Quebec, had a rowdy tradition of getting together just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry.

 Today, the Quebec Winter Carnival is the biggest winter carnival in the world and is celebrated annually at the end of January until mid-February. 

Think Mardi Gras in winter and you have an idea of how big a deal the Quebec Winter Carnival is. No sense in fighting the cold -- embrace and celebrate it.

 Location,

The Quebec Winter Carnival takes place at various locations in Old Quebec. Locations are within about a 1 km distance of one another, so for most people, walking distance. Keep in mind, Old Quebec hills are steep and proper footwear is a must. In addition, most every Carnival event is outdoors, so be sure to pack and dress appropriately. You can always take layers off, but if you or your kids are not warm enough, it can ruin the day.

Cost:

Kiosks and other outlets in the city sell the Bonnehomme effigy tag for $12 that gets you into most of the Winter Carnival events. Have cash on hand if you plan to buy from one of the street kiosks.

Some activities cost extra, but families can still have a full, fun day with just the purchase of the Carnival Bonnehomme effigy.

The zip line, night parades, slide runs, concerts, snow sculptures, sleigh or dogsled rides, Ice Palace and skating are among the many activities offered during this year's Carnival.

Martello Tower

Built by the British to prevent the Americans from drawing close enough to lay siege to the walls of Quebec, the four Martello towers were begun by James Craig in 1808 and completed in 1812. The towers were arranged to provide for each other's defence, being situated along an axis that bisects the Plains of Abraham from the northwest to the southeast in order to screen the western approach to Quebec City, and were numbered rather than named. Tower No. 3 was demolished in the 1900s but the other three remain. The limited openings on the tower were designed to prevent the enemy from taking it by storm, while the tower's rounded shape (to deflect projectiles) and thick masonry walls made it nearly impervious to artillery fire.

Martello Tower door
The doors to the tower are at a height of two and a half times the height of a man - about 4.5 metres - and could only be reached by a removable ladder. The towers were never tested in battle, and became obsolete in the 1860s with the development of rifled artillery, which was powerful enough to breech their walls.


Using the theme of military engineering Martello Tower No. 1 is open for visitors to view its three floors during the summer months.

The Martellos were originally fitted with removable roofs in the fall to keep snow from accumulating on the gun platform at the top and removed in the spring. The roofs were later replaced with newer permanent ones which look almost the same.

The three towers were designated a national historic site in 1990, and also form part of the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site.

Martello towers, sometimes known simply as Martellos, are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards.

They stand up to 40 feet (12m) high (with two floors) and typically had a garrison of one officer and 15–25 men. Their round structure and thick walls of solid masonry made them resistant to cannon fire, while their height made them an ideal platform for a single heavy artillery piece, mounted on the flat roof and able to traverse, and hence fire over, a complete 360° circle. A few towers had moats or other batteries and works attached for extra defence.

The Martello towers were used during the first half of the 19th century, but became obsolete with the introduction of powerful rifled artillery. Many have survived to the present day, often preserved as historic monuments.

In the later half of the 19th century, there was another spate of tower and fort building, during the premiership of Lord Palmerston. These fortifications are therefore correctly called the Palmerston Forts, although, because they are circular in design, some confuse them with Martello towers.

SWITZERLAND

ZURICH

Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, is also the country's economic and cultural hub; but with all its bustling activity it is still one of the finest Swiss towns, with carefully cherished traditions and much to attract and interest the visitor. The town lies at the lower northwestern end of Lake Zurich astride the river Limmat which flows out of the lake at this point, between the Uetliberg on the west and the Zürichberg on the east.

 

Zürich is situated at 408 m (1,339 ft) above sea level on the lower (northern) end of Lake Zürich (Zürichsee) about 30 kilometers (19 mi) north of the Alps, nestling between the wooded hills on the west and east side. The Old Town stretches on both sides of the Limmat River, which flows from the lake, running northwards at first and then gradually turning into a curve to the west. The geographic (and historic) centre of the city is the Lindenhof, a small natural hill on the west bank of the Limmat, about 700 m (2,300 ft) north of where the river issues from Lake Zürich.

Today the incorporated city stretches somewhat beyond the natural hydrographic confines of the hills and includes some districts to the northeast in the Glatt Valley (German: Glattal) and to the north in the Limmat Valley (German: Limmattal). The boundaries of the older city are easy to recognize by the Schanzengraben canal. This artificial watercourses has been used for the construction of the third fortress in the 17th and 18th centuries.

As a “metropolis of experiences” by the water, with a magnificent view of the snowcapped Alps on the horizon, Zürich offers a unique mixture of attractions – over 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries, international fashion labels and Zürich designs, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland. Recreational activities range from a visit to the riverside and lakeside bathing areas in the very heart of the city, to a spectacular hike on the Uetliberg Mountain.

Three of the five major Swiss banks have their head offices in the famous Bahnhofstrasse, one of the finest shopping streets in Europe. Zurich is also a great financial and industrial capital (mainly textiles, engineering and electrical equipment). In addition it is the country's leading tourist attraction, with about a million visitors a year. A fifth of the country's total national income is earned in Zurich.

Zurich is a town for sightseeing on foot, since the principal places of interest are on both sides of the river Limmat and on the north shore of Lake Zurich.

 Attraction at Zurich,

 

Swiss National Museum

 

The Swiss National Museum (German: Landesmuseum) — part of the Musée Suisse Group, itself affiliated with the Federal Office of Culture — is one of the most important art museums of cultural history in Europe and the world[citation needed]. It is located in the city of Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, next to the Hauptbahnhof.

The museum building of 1898 in the historicist style was built by Gustav Gull in the form of the French Renaissance city chateaus. His impressive architecture with dozens of towers, courts and his astonishing park on an island between the rivers Sihl and Limmat has become one of the main sights of the Old City District of Zurich.

 

 

The exhibition tour takes the visitor from prehistory through ancient times and the Middle Ages to the 20th century (classic modern art and art of the 16th, 17th and 18th century is settled mainly in the Kunsthaus Museum in a different part of the city of Zurich). There is a very rich section with gothic art, chivalry and a comprehensive collection of liturgical wooden sculptures, panel paintings and carved altars. Zunfthaus zur Meisen near Fraumünster church houses the porcelain and faience collection of the Swiss National Museum. There are also: a Collections Gallery, a place where there are Swiss furnishings being exhibited, an Armoury Tower, a diorama of the Battle of Murten, and a Coin Cabinet showing 14th, 15th, 16th century Swiss coins and even some coins from the Middle Ages.

The boats of the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft start their round trips (Swiss National Museum–Wollishofen–Zürichhorn) on the Limmat river through the city of Zürich at the Swiss National Museum.

 

Prime Tower

 

 

The Prime Tower, also named "Maag-Tower" in an earlier stage of planning, is a skyscraper in Zurich, Switzerland. It is the highest skyscraper in Switzerland at a height of 126 metres (413 ft).

The building is located near the Hardbrücke railway station. The tower replaces an industrial facility that has been demolished. According to its developers, the tower's construction, which took 15 years to plan and execute, was a financial success, with its valuation based on lease rates exceeding the construction cost by CHF 110 million.

The tower and its two companion buildings, Cubus and Diagonal, are used primarily as office buildings. As of its opening in December 2011, the tower hosts the "Clouds" restaurant on its top floor, a conference center, the Hotel Rivington & Sons on the ground floor, as well as the offices of Deutsche Bank Schweiz, Homburger AG, Swiss & Global Asset Management AG, Transammonia, Korn/Ferry International, Citibank Switzerland, Infosys, Repower AG, Ernst & Young, Zürcher Kantonalbank and consulting companies.


Event at Zurich,

Weltklasse Zürich

 

Zürich Marathon is a popular sport event, inviting numerous athletes from every corner of the globe. Zürich Marathon is a long distance running event, covering 42.195 kilometers (26.219 mi) at one stretch. The running course starts from Zürich and passes through Bahnhofstrasse, Bellevue, Mythenquai, Quaibrücke, Talstrasse and Utoquai, and along Lake Zürich to several other places. New Year's Eve run is another important running event. The race is held on 1 January each year and the start takes place at midnight exactly.

 

Zürich was one of six venues of the 1954 FIFA World Cup and one of eight venues of the UEFA Euro 2008. The Euro 2008 games were held in the Letzigrund Stadium. Work on the new Letzigrund was completed in exceptionally quick time and the stadium opened in August 2007 just one year after the demolition of the old arena.


Zürich also hosted the 1998 World Ice Hockey Championships. The city previously co-hosted the 1953 and 1939 editions.

VIETNAM

HO CHI MINH CITY

 

The Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, a metropolitan area covering most parts of the Southeast region plus Tiền Giang Province and Long An Province under planning, will have an area of 30,000 square kilometres (11,583 sq mi) with a population of 20 million inhabitants by 2020.[6] According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Economist Intelligence Unit and ECA International, Ho Chi Minh City is ranked 132 on the list of world's most expensive cities for expatriate employees.

Ho Chi Minh City began as a small fishing village known as Prey Nokor. The area that the city now occupies was originally swampland, and was inhabited by Khmer people for centuries before the arrival of the Vietnamese. In Khmer folklore southern Vietnam was given to the Vietnamese government as a dowry for the marriage of a Vietnamese princess to a Khmer prince in order to stop constant invasions and pillaging of Khmer villages.

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southeastern region of Vietnam, 1,760 km (1,090 mi) south of Hanoiar. The average elevation is 19
metres (62 ft) above sea level.
Has gone by several different names during its history, reflecting settlement by different ethnic, cultural and political groups. In the 1690s, Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers of Huế to establish Vietnamese administrative structures in the Mekong Delta and its surroundings.
Control of the city and the area passed to the Vietnamese, who gave the city the official name of Gia Định

Fasten your seatbelts as Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolis on the move – and we’re not just talking about the motorbikes that throng the streets. Saigon, as it’s known to all but city officials, is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the whole country forward with its limitless energy. It is a living organism that breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.



The attraction in Ho Chi Minh City,

The Reunification Palace

 

The Reunification Palace is an important site of political and cultural significance, built by the French in 1868 to mark the newly established colony of Indochina.

In 1945, it briefly became the headquarters for the Japanese after their defeat of the French. In 1962, two Vietnamese rebel pilots bombed the palace - the president survived but the palace did not. He commissioned a new one to be built.  It was renamed Independence Palace and the design became a Modernist icon.

In 1975 the palace was the symbolic site of the triumphant liberation of Saigon. Vietnam was then reunified; since then the building has been known as Reunification Palace.

 

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden

 

 The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, established in 1865, is Vietnam's largest zoo and botanical garden. Located on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1, T.P. in Ho Chi Minh City, it is home to over a hundred species of mammals, reptiles and birds, as well as many rare orchids and ornamental plants.[1] It also contains the Museum of Vietnamese History, which houses 25,000 documents of history, culture and ethnography from the country's history and the culture and history of South Vietnam, and a monument to Vietnamese people who were killed in World War I. Ranked the eighth oldest zoo in the world, its other parts are divided into animal and plant conservation areas, an orchid garden and an amusement park.

 

 

 

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden contains 590 animals of 125 species and 1,830 trees and plants of 260 species, some of which are over 100 years old. This includes 20 species of orchid, 32 species of cactus and 34 species of bonsai. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is divided into an animal conservation area, a plant conservation area, an orchid garden and an amusement park.

One factor that makes Ho Chi Minh City exceptional is the contrast between the old and the new. This is the country’s business centre, and there are many areas under development, but there are also many places and buildings from earlier eras that are well preserved and well worth visiting to see the French colonial influences as well as ancient Buddhist sites.

THAILAND

SIMILAN ISLANDS

The Similan Islands in the western Andaman Sea are considered the best dive destination in Thailand. The archipelago consist of 9 islands covered in tropical jungle with white sandy beaches. The views under the water surface are even more impressive. There are 2 different kind of dive spots around the Similan Islands. East facing dive sites consists of gently sloping coral reefs while west facing dive sites feature massive granite boulders, covered with hard and soft corals.

The Similans aren't as dramatically scenic as the limestone islands of Krabi or Phang Nga Bay, which many people have come to associate with the Andaman Sea. Instead, you find low-lying formations covered with thick forest.

Ironwood and gum trees are among the larger trees, while jackfruit, rattan and bamboo form part of the denser undergrowth. The islands are home to crab-eating monkeys, dusky langurs, squirrels, bats, lizards and a good variety of birds (though the monkeys are shy and rarely seen by the casual observer).

But the most striking feature of these islands, at first glance, are the huge boulders that litter the western and southern shores on several of the islands. Another highlight, as the visitor soon discovers, are the white coral-sand beaches, splendidly picturesque and often deserted.

The most interesting sights, however, are to be found beneath the waves. Some of the most spectacular coral growths in the world can be found here - and the same boulders that scatter the shores have turned the waters around the Similans into an adventure playground for divers.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Similan Islands National Park was established after a one-year exploration by the forestry department. The park is an archipelago consisting of nine islands named Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. Recently, the park was expanded to include two remote islands named Ko Bon and Ko Tachai. The Similans are situated 70 kilometres from Phang Nga town. "Similan" is a Yawi word which means "nine". Similan is one of the most famous diving sites in Thailand, and is noted as one of the top ten dive destinations in the world according to the National Geographic Society.

Underwater, meanwhile, all sorts of marine creatures have helped establish the reefs and the sandy beaches. When you climb up to Sailing Boat Rock, consider the brilliant white sand below.

This beach is in large part a product of diligent scraping and nibbling away by organisms such as the parrotfish - an average individual of which species may excrete more than 16 kilos of sand in the course of a year's lunching on hard corals. And there's plenty here to eat.
The conditions for coral growth are ideal, with a minimum prevailing sea temperature of about 28oC and exceptionally clear waters. More than 200 species of hard coral alone have so far been identified in this area, while these islands have the greatest profusion of reef fish in Thai waters.

In fact, in terms of both marine life and bottom topography, there's more variety than you'll find in most other dive destinations around the world. The Similan Islands has almost everything - coral walls (if we count Koh Bon, to the north, as one of the Similans), big rocks, huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and plenty of shallows for snorkelling as well. For, although the fringing waters around the islands average from 30-45m dropping down to 70-80m between islands, you'll find coral gardens in as little as six to seven metres.

1. Dive sites

The Similan national park is famous for its dive sites. It has typically two different kinds of diving. East side diving consists of gently sloping coral reefs with sandy patches and the occasional boulder in between.



The west side is known for its huge underwater granite boulders with numerous swimthroughs. Maybe the most famous east side dive site is East of Eden, off Island number 7.


Elephant Head Rock is arguably the most famous west side dive site with a maze of swimthroughs and the reputation for spin-cycle like currents running in every direction.

However, since 1999, its once most beautiful dive site, the Fantasy Reef, has been closed from all diving activities after its condition had significantly deteriorated. Park chiefs officially blame diving for the deterioration, while dive operators in the area claim that fishing boats, with or without permission, enter the national park during low season, when no dive operators are allowed in the national park.[citation needed] The national park also claims that the dive site suffered significant damage from the tsunami in 2004, and continues to keep the reef closed. Since only national park staff is allowed to dive Fantasy Reef, it has been impossible to confirm that statement.

SOUTH KOREA

SEOUL

Seoul (English pronunciation: /soʊl/; Korean: [sʌ.ul] ( listen) — officially the Seoul Special City — is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the developed world. The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province, is the world's second largest metropolitan area with over 25.6 million people, home to over half of South Koreans along with 632,000 international residents.

Situated on the Han River, Seoul's history stretches back more than 2,000 years when it was founded in 18 BCE by Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It continued as the capital of Korea under the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire. The Seoul metropolitan area contains four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. Seoul is surrounded by mountains, the tallest being Mt. Bukhan, the world's most visited national park per square foot.[9] Modern landmarks include the iconic N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, the world's second largest indoor theme park, and Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, the world's longest bridge fountain. The birthplace of K-pop and the Korean Wave, Seoul was voted the world's most wanted travel destination by Chinese, Japanese and Thai tourists for three consecutive years in 2009–2011 with over 10 million international visitors in 2012.

 

 

Tourism in South Korea refers to the tourist industry in the Republic of Korea. In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most visited country in the world, up from 8.5 million in 2010. Most non-Korean tourists come from Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The recent popularity of Korean popular culture, often known as the "Korean wave", in these countries has increased tourist arrivals.

Seoul is the principal tourist destination for visitors; popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and semi-tropical Jeju Island. Traveling to North Korea is not normally possible without a special permission, but in recent years organized group tours have allowed groups of South

National Museum 

Seoul is home to over 100 museums, including three national and nine official municipal museums. The National Museum of Korea is the most representative of museums in not only Seoul but all of South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has built a collection of 150,000 artifacts. In October 2005, the museum moved to a new building in Yongsan Family Park. The National Folk Museum is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the district of Jongno District and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people. Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village are old residential districts consisting of hanok Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums that allows visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. The War Memorial, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved, including Korean War themes. The Seodaemun Prison is a former prison built during the Japanese occupation, and is currently used as a history museum.


Religious monuments


Myeongdong Cathedral

There are also religious buildings that take important roles in Korean society and politics. The Wongudan altar was a sacrificial place where Korean rulers held heavenly rituals since the Three Kingdoms period. Since the Joseon Dynasty adopted Confucianism as its national ideology in the 14th century, the state built many Confucian shrines. The descendants of the Joseon royal family still continue to hold ceremonies to commemorate ancestors at Jongmyo. It is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. Munmyo and Dongmyo were built during the same period. Although Buddhism was suppressed by the Joseon state, it has continued its existence. Jogyesa is the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Hwagyesa and Bongeunsa are also major Buddhist temples in Seoul.



Parks

Namsan Park

Namsan Park offers hiking, recreation and views of the downtown Seoul skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located here. Seoul Olympic Park is located in Songpa District and was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Wongaksa Pagoda 10 tier pagoda is situated In Tapgol Park, a small public park with an area of 19,599 m2 (210,962 sq ft). Areas around streams serve as public places for relaxation and recreation. Tancheon stream and the nearby area serve as a large park with paths for both walkers and cyclists. Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs nearly 6 km (4 mi) through downtown Seoul, is popular among both Seoul residents and tourists.

 The Seoul metropolitan area accommodates six major parks, including the Seoul Forest, which opened in mid-2005. The Seoul National Capital Area also contains a green belt aimed at preventing the city from sprawling out into neighboring Gyeonggi Province. These areas are frequently sought after by people looking to escape from urban life on weekends and during vacations.

Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World. Other recreation centers include the former Olympic and World Cup stadiums and the City Hall public lawn.


 Olympic and World Cup stadiums

If you are interested in going to palaces in Seoul, or looking for some good places to shop in Seoul, you can check their pages for more information. Below, I have listed my top five favorite attractions in Seoul, Korea. If you are interested in booking a hotel in Seoul for a few days or a few weeks, you can find great deals online or when you arrive. You can also check out this Seoul travel & flights page, to work out the cheapest way to travel to Seoul.

JAPAN

MOUNTAIN FUJI

Over one million people hike to the top of Mount Fuji each year. Mount Fuji is located in the heart of Hakone National Park. The climbing season is from July to August, when the weather is the mildest and there is the least amount of snow on the mountain.

Japan’s highest mountain (3776 meters, 12,377’) is unquestionably the country’s most iconic natural landmark. Photographed in all seasons from all angles, its near perfect cone is climbed by one quarter million people yearly, usually during the months of July and August. Its high visibility and traffic is partially owed to its proximity to the Kanto, or the plain surrounding Tokyo. However the best time to view the mountain is in the winter months when visibility is best.

Since many people climb the mountain hiking trails and facilities are well established and there is a considerable amount of development on the mountain.

Popular hiking routes to the summit are Gotemba, Fujinomiya, and Kawaguchiko. All of the trails have ten stations each, which are situated strategically to offer refreshments, lodging, and facilities for the hikers and tourists alike.

Mt. Fuji is 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Tokyo and borders the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in Japan. Yamanashi and Shizuoka are located in the Chūbu region on the island of Honshu. You can get to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo by riding a bullet train, taking a subway, or tour bus.

Named after the Buddhist fire goddess Fuchi, Mount Fuji is a holy mountain, and at its peak is a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the goddess Sengen-Sama.

Below is an astonishing view of the Fuji Five Lakes and the Shiraito Falls. Mount Fuji is surrounded by lush greenery and, in the spring, budding cherry blossoms.

 At the foot of Mt.Fuji is Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, the headquarters of 1300 Sengen Jinja Shrines in Japan, worshipped by the early climbers before climbing up. In May, "Yabusame Festival", the Japanese samurai performance with bows and arrows on the horse, is traditionally held in this shrine. You can also visit Shiraito Falls or explore nature of Asagiri Highland including Lake Tanuki where you can see “Diamond Fuji”, the precious moment when the sun rises on the top of Mt.Fuji.


Mt. Fuji has long been the center of mountain worship of ancient Japan. Today, it is a popular mountain to climb, and many people climb Mt. Fuji to watch the sunrise called Goraiko from the top. Access to the 5th station is well maintained, so you can go up to this point and thoroughly enjoy the magnificence of Mt. Fuji by just looking at the beautiful sight and its surrounding environment close at hand in all seasons without having to climb all the way to the top.



Fujiten Snow Resort

 

Fujiten Snow Resort is a small ski resort along the northern base of Mount Fuji in the Fuji Five Lakes region. Fujiten is the larger of two ski resorts on Mount Fuji and offers good facilities and views of the mountain. The other one is the Snow Town Yeti on the mountain's southern base.
Fujiten has a respectable selection of runs with something to suit every ability. Its two 1300 meter long main courses are suitable for beginners, while a 500 meter long family slope is reserved for beginning skiers.

 

 The resort also features steeper, advanced courses and a terrain park with several large jumps, rails and boxes that attract talented skiers and snowboarders. Snow canons provide the resort with man made snow when nature does not cooperate, which is not an uncommon occurrence.
Fujiten also has a large kids park where children can sled, innertube, jump on a trampoline, learn to ski or just play in the snow. Admission to the kids park costs 600 yen per person, but is free for holders of full-day lift passes. Some of the activities require rentals or separate fees to participate in.