One of the most famous mountains in the world, Japan's Mount Fuji, will likely win recognition as a World Heritage Site.
According to The Agency for Cultural Affairs, who issued a notice on Wednesday, Japan's iconic mountain was recommended for World Heritage status by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which is affiliated with UNESCO. Approval is expected in June at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Cambodia.
"The Japanese cultural agency statement on Wednesday said that the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) had approved Mt Fuji as appropriate for registration," reported The BBC. "Icomos is responsible for evaluating cultural properties nominated to the World Heritage List and submitting a recommendation to the annual meeting."
Japan already has 16 cultural World Heritage sites under its belt. Four are natural and 12 are cultural sites. Mout Fuji is set in a beautiful setting with its 3,776 meter volcanic peak surrounded by national parks and lakes, temples and shrines.
According to National Geographic, Mount Fuji is the most popular tourist site in Japan for both foreign and Japanese tourists. More than 200,000 people climb the mountain yearly.
"Mount Fuji has been a sacred site for practicers of Shinto since at least the 7th century. Shinto is the indigenous faith or spirituality of Japan. many Shinto shrines dot the base and ascent of Mount Fuji. Shinto shrines honor kami, the supernatural deities of the Shinto faith. The kami of Mount Fuji is Princess Konohanasakuya, whose symbol is the cherry blossom. Konohanasakuya has an entire series of shrines, called Segen shrines. The main Segen shrines are at the base and summit of Mount Fuji, but there are more than 1,000 across all of Japan" reported National Geographic.
.Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain and its volcano last erupted 300 years ago. A few hours from Tokyo the mountain is an iconic centerpeice in Japanese culture and tradition.
"It's crucial that we preserve all the vantage points from which we can view Mount Fuji," said Shoji Watai, an expert on a cultural preservation panel of Fujinomiya city which is near Fuji to the AP.
There was a second application for shrines and temples of Kamakura which is south of Tokyo, but it did not receive approval.
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