Top 10 Facts On Mt Fuji

Located only 60 miles from the Japanese capital, Tokyo, Mt Fuji has become a staple of Japanese art and culture since the 16^th century. Today, Mt Fuji is an international haven for tourism as well as mountain climbing, with over 200,000 people climbing the mountain every year. Taking a look at our Top 10 facts on Mt Fuji will enrich your Japanese experience and educate you ahead of the Jamboree!

1. Mt Fuji is actually a Stratovolcano!

Not only is it one volcano – it’s three! The mount is three separate volcanoes placed on top of one another. The bottom layer is the Komitake volcano, then the Kofuji volcano, then Fuji, which is the youngest.

2. Its shape is unique

Mt. Fuji has a very distinctive cone shape, which is very unusual for a volcano.

3. There is only a small window to trek Mt. Fuji

If you have opted for the ACTION post event tour and are off up Mt. Fuji, you have hit the jackpot! The climbing season is VERY SHORT; it starts at the beginning of July until the last week in August!

4. Mt. Fuji Is the tallest mountain in japan!

Geographically, Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan and stands at 3,776 metres (12,380 feet).

5. A monk was the first to climb mt. Fuji

The first known ascent of Mt. Fuji was in 663 by a monk. The Mt. was commonly climbed my men. However, women were not allowed to climb until the 19^th century! The first woman to ascent was Lady Fanny Parkes in 1867.

6. Mt. Fuji has a military background

The volcano is also known for being home of the warrior culture in Japan – the Samurais used the area for training. More recently, military camps from both Japan and the USAhave operated from Mt. Fuji.

7. Mt. Fuji is still active!

Mt Fuji is indeed still active. Although, the last time it erupted was in 1707, over 300 years ago!

8. Climbing Mt. Fuji could be easier thank you think!

It would take the average person between 4 and 8 hours to trek the summit – piece of cake!

9. Donations are welcome!

Whilst you can trek the mount for free, the Shizuoka & Yamanashi government started accepting donations of 1,000 Yen in 2013, to fund the area for conservation.

10. Influence on Japanese culture

The unique shape of Mt. Fuji has influenced much of Japanese culture. It has been the inspiration to Japanese poetry, music and art. The artist Katsushika Hokusai has painted 36 views of Mt. Fuji.