Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji (富士山・富士の山, Fujisan, Fuji no Yama) is an active stratovolcano on the Japanese island of Honshu. Standing at 3,776.24 metres (12,389 feet 3 inches), it is the highest mountain in Japan. It is also the second-highest volcano on any Asian island, after Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra, and the seventh-highest peak of an island on Earth. The mountain last erupted from 1707 to 1708.

Located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) southwest of Tokyo, Mount Fuji can often be seen from the city on clear days. The mountain has a very symmetrical shape, with its cone covered in snow for about five months each year. It is a important cultural icon in Japan, often shown in art and photographs. Many people visit to enjoy the sights, hike, or climb the mountain.

Mount Fuji is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains", along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku. It is recognized as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Historic Site. In 2013, it was added to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Site. According to UNESCO, Mount Fuji has inspired artists and poets and has been a destination for pilgrims for many years. The area includes 25 important cultural locations, such as the mountain itself and the Shinto shrine, Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha.

Etymology

Further information: wikt:富士 § Etymology 3

The name Mount Fuji comes from the Japanese word Fuji. The two characters used for this name mean "wealth" or "abundant" and "man of status". But we are not sure why these characters were chosen for the mountain's name. Some old stories say the name might come from words meaning "immortal" or "never-ending". Others have suggested it might be linked to the shape of the mountain or even an old word for fire.

The mountain is most often called Mount Fuji in English. In Japanese, people usually say "Fuji-san". This "san" comes from an old way of saying "mountain" and is not the same as the word used for people’s names. There are a few other older or poetic names for the mountain as well.

History

Mount Fuji has long been admired for its beautiful shape and has often appeared in Japanese art, especially since the year 1600. Many poems and stories have been written about it. People have thought of the top of the mountain as a special, sacred place, and in the past, women were not allowed to go there. This changed in 1872 when the government said everyone could visit.

Famous people from other countries also climbed Mount Fuji. The first was Sir Rutherford Alcock in 1860, and the first non-Japanese woman was Lady Fanny Parkes in 1867.

Today, Mount Fuji is a famous place for people to visit and climb. It is a important symbol in Japanese culture and was named a World Heritage Site in 2013.

Geography

Mount Fuji is a special and well-known part of Japan's landscape. It stands very tall at 3,776 meters (about 12,389 feet) and is found near the Pacific coast in central Honshu, a little bit south-west of Tokyo. The mountain sits on the edge between Shizuoka and Yamanashi areas. Four small cities—Gotemba, Fujiyoshida, Fujinomiya, and Fuji—are close to it, along with many towns and villages. Five beautiful lakes surround Mount Fuji: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu, and Lake Shōji. There is also Lake Ashi nearby, which also offers great views. The mountain is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and can sometimes be seen from far away places like Yokohama, Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Lake Hamana, when the weather is clear. It was even photographed from space during a space shuttle mission.

The top of Mount Fuji has a cold climate, like places far north. The temperature there is very low, and snow covers the mountain for many months each year. The coldest it has ever been was −38.0 °C (−36.4 °F) in February 1981, and the warmest was 17.8 °C (64.0 °F) in August 1942. Usually, snow starts to appear on Fuji around October 2nd, but in 2024, it didn’t appear until November 6th—the latest it has ever been seen since records began in 1894.

Geology

Further information: Historic eruptions of Mount Fuji, List of volcanoes in Japan, and Triple junction

Mount Fuji is located where three large pieces of Earth's surface, called plates, meet. These plates shape the land in Japan. The mountain is part of a group of volcanoes formed by these moving plates.

Scientists have found that Mount Fuji grew in four main steps. The oldest part was formed a very long time ago, and each new step built the mountain higher. The most recent big eruption happened a few centuries ago, creating a new peak and sending ash far away. Today, experts watch the mountain closely, but there are no signs that it will erupt soon.

Aokigahara forest

Aokigahara forest is located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji. Folk tales and legends speak of ghosts and mysterious creatures in the forest. In the past, some families in need left their younger or older members there.

Many hikers leave colored plastic tape to mark their paths, which can affect the forest's plants and animals. Local leaders have placed signs to offer help and support to anyone who may be struggling.

Access

Transport

The nearest airport with international flights is Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport. It opened in June 2009 and is about 80 km (50 mi) from Mount Fuji. Two larger airports, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) and Narita International Airport, are about three hours and 15 minutes away.

Climbing routes

About 300,000 people climbed Mount Fuji in 2009. The best time to climb is from July to August when the weather is warmest and facilities are open. Buses to the trail heads start running on July 1. Many Japanese climb at night to reach the top for sunrise, called goraikō, which means "arrival of light."

There are four main routes to the summit: Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya. Climbers often start at the fifth station, reachable by car or bus. The summit is the tenth station on each trail. The Yoshida route is the most popular because it has lots of parking and mountain huts. The Fujinomiya route is next, followed by Subashiri and Gotemba. Climbing from the fifth station takes 5 to 7 hours up, and 3 to 4 hours down. Some paths are covered in ash, making them slippery.

Tractors use some paths to deliver supplies to huts, but these paths are usually too narrow for climbers. Some people ride mountain bikes down these paths, but this can be dangerous.

The older routes from the base of the mountain, like Murayama, are gaining popularity but are still not as common. Bears have sometimes been seen on the Yoshida route.

Huts above the fifth station are usually open during the climbing season, but those below are often closed. It is illegal to camp above the fifth station because Mount Fuji is a national park.

There are eight peaks around the summit. Climbers can visit these peaks.

Paragliding

Paragliders often take off near the fifth station at the Gotemba parking lot, between Subashiri and Hōei-zan peak on the south side of Fuji. Some paragliding schools use the wide slope between Gotemba and Subashiri as a training area.

Overtourism concerns

In February 2024, the Yamanashi government started charging a fee of 2,000 yen ($13) for hikers using the Yoshida trail from the summer season onward. This is to help manage crowded conditions and fund safety measures. The government also set a daily limit of 4,000 hikers on that trail and will close it between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., except for people staying in mountain lodges. The Shizuoka government made the same rules for the Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya trails because of similar concerns.

In culture

Shinto mythology

In Shinto stories, Kuninotokotachi is one of the first gods born when the earth began to form. Another important figure is Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess linked to Mount Fuji. A special place called Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha honors her.

For a long time, people respected Mount Fuji from far away. A shrine called the Asama shrine was built near its base to help prevent eruptions. Later, during the Heian period, people began climbing the mountain as part of their religious practices.

Popular culture

Mount Fuji is a famous symbol of Japan and appears in many kinds of art, like paintings, woodblock prints, poetry, music, theater, movies, manga, anime, and even pottery. Before a big eruption in 1980, Mount St. Helens in America was called "The Fuji of America" because it looked similar. Mount Taranaki in New Zealand is also said to look like Mount Fuji and has been used to represent it in some films and shows.