Here are some facts about Mount Fuji.
- Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, at 3,776 metres. It is located on the island of Honshu, about 100 km from Tokyo and is visible from the city on clear days.
- Partly because of its symmetrical cone, it has become a symbol of the country. It has been featured in many drawings and paintings, as well as in numerous books and poems.
- The first ascent was probably by a local monk in the 7th century. The first European to climb Mount Fuji was Rutherford Alcock in 1868, who took 8 hours to reach the top.
- Over 100,000 people climb Mount Fuji every year, making it the world’s most climbed mountain. Many climbers time their ascent to see the sunrise from the summit.
- Mount Fuji is actually a volcano. It last erupted in 1708. The crater is about 273 metres deep and measures about 530 metres across.
- The season for climbing Mount Fuji is short, and only happens during July and August. There are 7 paths to the summit with many shrines, rest huts and tea houses along the trails.
- The mountain is Japan’s most popular tourist attraction and many people make pilgrimages there. Buddhists and other religious groups believe it to be a sacred place.
- Until the late 19th century, women were forbidden from climbing the mountain because of its religious associations. The first European woman to reach the summit was Fanny Parkes, in 1867.
- A Japanese artist, Hokusai Katsushika, created a series of 36 woodblock prints showing the mountain in different seasons. He started work on the project in 1830 at the age of 70.
- A forest named Aokigahara lies at the foot of the mountain and is said to be haunted by ghosts and goblins.
What next? Discover some more facts about some of the world’s most famous mountains by visiting our mountains resources page.
