Mount Fuji

May 3, 2008

The highest mountain in Japan, Mt.Fuji is 3776-meter high. Mt.Fuji, which had been a sacred mountain, appeared the present form about 10,000 years ago. More than 200,000 people climb to the top of Mt.Fuji in a year. 30% of them is foreigners. Now, Mt.fuji is a mountain which the people from the world can be friendly.

The most popular period for people to hike up Mt. Fuji is from 1 July to 27 August, while huts and other facilities are operating. Buses to the fifth station start running on 1 July.

There are four major routes from the fifth station to the summit with an additional four routes from the foot of the mountain. The major routes from the fifth station are (clockwise) the Kawaguchiko, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya routes. The routes from the foot of the mountain are the Shojiko, Yoshida, Suyama, and Murayama routes. The stations on different routes are at different sea levels. The highest fifth station is located at Fujinomiya, followed by Kawaguchi, Subashiri, and Gotemba.

Even though it is only the second highest fifth station, the Kawaguchiko route is the most popular route because of its large parking area and many and large mountain huts where a climber can rest or stay. During the summer season, most Mount Fuji climbing tour buses arrive there. The next popular is the Fujinomiya route which has the highest fifth station, followed by Subashiri and Gotemba.

The easiest way to view Mount Fuji is from the train on a trip along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka. If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo in direction of Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, the best view of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right hand side of the train, about 40 to 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo.

Mount.Fuji

Mountaintop

Seasons for Mountain Climbing

July 1st to August 31th
The weather is stable,and there is no snow at the mountaintop. Many mountain huts are open,so most Japanese climb in this season. However,depending on the year,the mountain trail may be partly closed in early July,because of snow near the summit.

Late July to mid August
The weather is especially stable,so a crowd of climbers appear every year. However,there may be a regulation on cars in mid August.Restrictions may be seen in some roads. In that case,use a near by parking area and take a shuttle bus.

Late August
The weather becomes unstable.

Before June and after September
There may be snow at the mountaintop.The weather is too unstable for climbing,and the mountain huts are mostly closed. Equipment for winter climbing is necessary.Also,a planned script for climbing must be submitted. June is rainy season,and in September,taifoon may arrive.

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Osaka Aquarium

May 3, 2008

The natural environments of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the volcanic perimeter which surrounds the Pacific Ocean, have been recreated in 14 separate exhibits and populated with over 35,000 specimens representing 580 species in the Osaka Aquarium. Located in the harbor area of the city, the aquarium is centered on a huge nine-meter deep-water tank, which represents the Pacific Ocean.

According to the Pacific Rim volcanic belt, “Ring of Fire,” KAIYUKAN reproduces the huge Pacific Ocean and neighboring environments, and makes consideration that visitors can easily follow such environments from northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean where Japan locates.

Tank	Image	Introduction & ★Main creatures
Aqua Gate Water volume: 140 tons Water temperature: 21 degrees C Tunnel length: 11 meters Area: 63 square meters		Tour of KAIYUKAN begins by walking through this tunnel-shaped tank (11 meters long), Aqua Gate. Colorful schools of fish playing around this tunnel come from tropical and subtropical seas. This fantastic blue world will attract you. ★Javanese cownose ray, Damselfish,
Japan Forest Water volume: 60 tons Temperature is the same as that of the outdoors Water temperature: 15 - 23 degrees C Area: 430 square meters		Forest rains gather in rivers flowing to the sea. Enjoy the green forests, river fish and shore living things of Japan’s inland areas. ★ Giant salamander, Char, Red spotted masou trout, Asian smallclawed otter, ★Zelkova serrata, Acer palmatum var. matsumurae, Strawberry geranium
Aleutian Islands Water volume: 250 tons Temperature: 13 degrees C Water temperature: 10 degrees C Area: 50 square meters		This tank re-creates the harsh, rocky environment of Aleutian Islands, where the water temperature ranges from 2 to 10 degrees C. Playful sea otters are popular among children. ★Sea otter, Rainbow trout
Monterey Bay Water volume: 1,050 tons Temperature is the same as that of the outdoors Water temperature: 18 degrees C Area: 250 square meters		A variety of marine mammals live along the California coastline. This display offers a rare chance to see underwater behaviors of sealions and harbor seals. ★Harbor seal, California sealion
Gulf of Panama Water volume: 500 tons Temperature: 26 degrees C Water temperature: 22 degrees C Area: 50 square meters		This display replicates a tropical rainforest in a dry season with a forest-dwelling twotoed sloth and tropical reef fish. ★ Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, Geochelone carbonaria , Pocupine fish,
Ecuador Rain Forest Water volume: 250 tons Temperature: 26 - 30 degrees C Water temperature: 26 degrees C Area: 150 square meters		Deep in the heart of Amazon, you’ll find the world’s greatest diversity of plant and animal life. ★Pirarucu, Common squirrel monkey, Iguana iguana
Antarctica Water volume: 350 tons Temperature: 0 - 3 degrees C Water temperature: 10 degrees C Area: 50 square meters		Penguins live in frozen rocks and ice. Visitors can see them gracefully swimming under the water, as if they fly through the air. ★King penguin, Gentoo penguin,
Tasman Sea Water volume: 1,350 tons Temperature: 10 - 26 degrees C Water temperature: 18 - 23 degrees C Area: 260 square meters		Water temperature around New Zealand varies. Visitors to this tank can see dolphins swimming in the warm water. ★Pacific whitesided dolphin ★Kangaroo vine, Fern
Great Barrier Reef Water volume: 450 tons Water temperature: 26 degrees C Area: 60 square meters		This tank faithfully imitates the world’s largest coral reef extending 2,000 kilometers along the eastern coast of Australia. ★Butterflyfish, Damselfish, Chiloscyllium punctatum,
Pacific Ocean Water volume: 5,400 tons Water temperature: 23 - 24 degrees C Area: 620 square meters		This is the largest tank in this aquarium with 9 meters deep, and 5,400 tons of water. You will never forget the whale shark swimming in this tank. ★Whale shark, Manta ray, Bluefin tuna, Spotted eagle ray
Seto Inland Sea Water volume: 150 tons Water temperature: 17 degrees C Area: 40 square meters		Not a large ocean though, this sea has many faces, and is a home for wide variety of living things. Many kinds of species live in this local area. ★Sea bream, Olive flounder, Common octopus
Kelp Forest Water volume: 300 tons Water temperature: 17 degrees C Area: 40 square meters		A dense kelp forest covers the seabed of California coast, where various fishes swim. ★Garbaldi, Opaleye, Strawberry anemone, Ocean sunfish
Coast of Chile Water volume: 250 tons Water temperature: 18 degrees C Area: 40 square meters		Cold currents, flowed from Antarctica, abound in nutrients and produce a lot of plankton on the coast of Chile. Sardines live in groups to eat the plankton. ★Sardine, Japanese anchovy, Perjerrey
Cook Strait Water volume: 350 tons Water temperature: 18 degrees C Area: 40 square meters		Seaturtles and fish from Cook Strait separating the northern and southern islands of New Zealand are exhibited. ★Loggerhead seaturtle, Green seaturtle, Pink maomao, Blue maomao
Japan Deeps Water volume: 80 tons Water: 11degrees C Area: 40 square meters		No sunlight reaches the quiet, dark, and deep sea. The largest crab living on the trench slope of 200-400 meters below the sea level are exhibited. ★Giant spider crab, Snipe fish
Floating Jelly Fish Water volume: 11 tons in total in 12 tanks Area: 289 square meters		In the floor of Floating Jelly Fish, twelve species representing about six hundred specimens centering jelly fishes living in the coast of Japan are exhibited. Visitors are able to see fantastic appearances of jelly fishes floating in twelve tanks. ★Brown jellyfish, Moon jelly, Tima Formosa, Pacific Sea Nettle, etc.
KAIYUKAN Gallery Exhibition Area: Approx. 390 square meters		This Gallery is an exhibition room located on the fourth floor in KAIYUKAN Entrance Building and holds large-scale exhibitions periodically.