25 facts about Mount Fuji

1
It is an active stratovolcano.

It is the second-highest island stratovolcano in Asia, with Mount Kerinci on Sumatra being the highest.

2
It is the youngest of three volcanoes, composed into one mountain.

The oldest is Komitake, and in the middle lies Kofuji.

3
It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

It covers an area of 1,227 square kilometers and is the most famous national park in Japan.

4
It is 3,776.24 meters high.

It is the highest peak in Japan.

5
It is made of basalt.

It is a fine-grained volcanic rock, formed from the cooling of low-viscosity lava.

6
It is not known where its name derives from.

The name commonly used in Japan, Fujiyama, translates to “the precious one.” Historians still cannot determine the origin of the name.

7
It is surrounded by five lakes.

They are Motosuko, Shojiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, and Kawaguchiko.

8
The last eruption took place from December 1707 to February 1708.

There are said to be three more unconfirmed eruptions of the volcano between 1708 and 1854.

9
The 18th-century eruption is believed to be triggered by the Hōei earthquake.

Until 2011, it was the largest earthquake that struck Japan.

10
The last volcanic activity of Mount Fuji was recorded in the 1960s.

Some volcanologists suggest that the volcano may soon erupt since its eruption intervals have already been surpassed.

11
It is considered a sacred site by the Japanese.

It holds special meaning, especially to the followers of the Shinto religion.

12
The symmetrical shape of the mountain, including its cone, makes it one of the world’s most recognizable mountains.

13
Mount Fuji is open to climbers for two months only–from the beginning of July to the end of August.

14
At the end of each climbing season, Fujiyoshida City holds a two-day fire festival at the base of the mountain.

The Yoshida Fire Festival is held on August 26th and 27th. Its purpose is both to celebrate the end of a climbing season and keep volcanic eruptions in check, by appeasing the goddess Konohanasakuya-hime.

15
Until the 19th century, women were not allowed to climb Mount Fuji.

The first Japanese woman to climb the mountain was Tatsu Takayama, who ascended the summit in 1832. Fanny Parkes, a traveler writer from Wales, was the first foreign woman to trek the mountain between 1867 and 1869.

16
The first person ever to climb Mount Fuji was a Buddhist monk.

His name remains unknown, although it is known he ascended the summit in 663 AD.

17
The average time needed to climb Mount Fuji is six hours.

It is considered a remotely easy climb.

18
There are four trails to the summit, with rest stations along the way.

19
Approximately 300,000 people climb Mount Fuji every year.

It makes it the most popular climbing destination in the world.

20
Since 2013, it has been listed as a Cultural Site on UNESCO World Heritage List.

21
It is one of the most popular landscapes to be featured in various pieces of art.

There are many poems, paintings, and songs that used Mount Fuji as an inspiration.

22
Mount Fuji is best known for the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika.

The most recognizable piece is The Great Wave.

23
Its image was captured on the back of a 1,000 Yen note.

Yen is an official Japanese currency.

24
It is possible to get married at the Mount Fuji summit.

It can happen only in the climbing season, and the amount of guests is limited to 10 people.

25
Over 30 species of mammals live on Mount Fuji and its surrounding areas.

There are, for instance, Asiatic black bears, or the rare Japanese serow.

Facts about Mount Fuji

Fujiyama

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