People pose for a photo at the summit of Mount Fuji with the rising sun in the background at 4:29 a.m. on July 1. (Hiroshi Kawai)

FUJIYOSHIDA, Yamanashi Prefecture--About 150 people celebrated the light of dawn emerging from among the clouds from the top of Mount Fuji on July 1, the opening day of the summer climbing season.

People admire the rising sun at the summit of Mount Fuji at 4:28 a.m. on July 1. (Hiroshi Kawai)

People walk through a “torii” gate near the top of Mount Fuji before the break of day at 4:05 a.m. on July 1. (Hiroshi Kawai)

The sun rose at around 4:28 a.m. at the summit, prompting banzai cheers from the warmly dressed crowd.

“I was able to come here comfortably thanks to my regular practice,” said a 70-year-old woman from Tokyo.

A trail from Yamanashi Prefecture opened on July 1, to be followed by a route from Shizuoka Prefecture on July 10. The summer climbing season will run through Sept. 10.

In June, the 3,776-meter mountain, Japan's tallest peak, marked five years since it was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.