There are a few things that will make almost anyone think of Japan. In addition to samurai, geishas, manga, and sushi, there’s one geographical feature that makes everyone think of The Land of the Rising Sun.
Mount Fuji, Japan’s sacred mountain, is a symbol of Japanese culture and one of the world’s most recognisable mountains. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hikers and tourists alike can get there quite easily from Tokyo.
In this article, we’ll look at the history of this divine mountain. From its geological origins as well as its historical and cultural origins, here’s what makes Mount Fuji capture the Japanese imagination.
Mount Fuji: A Sacred Mountain
Mount Fuji is without a doubt symbolic of Japan; you can see it everywhere from postcards to movies. This is hardly surprising given its status as an important religious landmark.
The mountain is about 60 miles to the south-west of Tokyo on the island of Honshu and the highest point of Japan at 3776 metres. Mount Fuji is an active volcano and the summit is a crater that has erupted many times in the past.
Mount Fuji is an important place in Japanese religion. It’s often known as Fujiyama and Fuji-San (Mr Fuji). It's worshipped as a god (kami) in Japan and its volcanic activity symbolises the earth, sky, and fire. Thus, plenty pilgrims make the journey to the summit of Mount Fuji either on foot or in the cable car. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, there are plenty of shrines and hot springs warmed by the volcanic activity of Mount Fuji.
Mount Fuji has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.”. Here’s its UNESCO entry:
“The beauty of the solitary, often snow-capped, stratovolcano, known around the world as Mount Fuji, rising above villages and tree-fringed sea and lakes has long been the object of pilgrimages and inspired artists and poets... Its representation in Japanese art goes back to the 11th century, but 19th-century woodblock prints of views, including those from sand beaches with pine tree groves, have made Fujisan an internationally recognised icon of Japan and have had a deep impact on the development of Western art.”
If you travel to Japan, you have to see it. Furthermore, there’s the rich history behind it.
Find out more about Mount Fuji.
The History of Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji appeared 600,000 years ago as an active volcano (even though it's still an active volcano, it hasn’t erupted since 1707). During the Jomon Period, there were 4 major eruptions:
- Sengoku
- Osawa
- Omuro
- Sunazawa
How Old Is Mount Fuji?
Mount Fuji is estimated to be around 100,000 to 300,000 years old. The mountain's current form, known as "New Fuji," began to take shape around 10,000 years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions. The older stages of Mount Fuji's formation include earlier volcanic phases, with the mountain's first volcanic activity dating back even further. The most recent eruption occurred in 1707, during the Edo period, and the volcano remains active today.
Mount Fuji's geological history stretches back to earlier volcanic activity, with earlier stages of the mountain's formation occurring long before the modern eruptions. So while its exact age can vary depending on which stage you're referring to, it's safe to say the iconic mountain has been around for hundreds of thousands of years!
This was around 3,000 years ago but around 2,300 years ago, the eastern face of the volcano collapsed creating the Hoei-Zan on the south-east of the mountain. The mudflows flowed down to the Gotemba area which is why it was called the Gotemba mudflow.
Mountain Fuji has been considered a sacred mountain since the 7th century. In the Shinto religion, the emperor gave the order to destroy its summit to release the elixir that it contained. The smoke escaping was this elixir.
Mount Fuji is also home to Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess of Mount Fuji and all volcanoes. This is why there are several shrines on the mountain.
Find out more about the cost of visiting Mount Fuji.
A Timeline Of Mount Fuji
100,000 years ago
Formation Begins
Mount Fuji begins forming as a result of tectonic activity. It's built up over millennia by repeated volcanic eruptions.
10,000 BCE
Ancient Volcanic Activity
The Komitake and Ko-Fuji volcanoes (precursors to modern Mount Fuji) are active during this period.
300 BCE
Formation of Present-Day Mount Fuji
The current cone-shaped mountain begins forming through major eruptions, eventually covering earlier volcanoes.
781 CE
First Recorded Eruption
The first known historical eruption of Mount Fuji is recorded in Japanese texts.
864 CE
Jōgan Eruption
A massive eruption on the northwestern slope causes widespread damage, creates the Aokigahara forest, and forms several lakes.
1100s-1600s
Spiritual Symbolism Grows
Mount Fuji becomes sacred in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Pilgrimages become common.
1180
Taira no Kiyomori’s Rebellion
Volcanic activity is interpreted as a bad omen during political unrest in the Heian period.
1707
Hōei Eruption
The most recent major eruption. Ash falls on Edo (modern-day Tokyo), but no lava flows. A secondary peak, Mount Hōei, forms.
1800s
Mount Fuji in Art
Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai publishes Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, including the famous “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”.
1868
Meiji Restoration
Mount Fuji becomes a symbol of the newly unified and modernizing Japan.
2013
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site
Officially designated for its spiritual and artistic influence.
Eruptions of Mount Fuji through the Years
There have been several major eruptions at Mount Fuji. The first of these major eruptions took place in the Jogan era in 864. This eruption covered the northeast of the volcano with huge lava flows separating the Lake Senoumi into the Saiko and Shojiko lakes.
There were sixteen recorded eruptions between 800 and 1083 during the Heian era. Periods of inactivity at Mount Fuji can last for centuries like between 1083 and 1511.
The most recent eruption was recorded in 1707 in the Hoei era. This was known as the great Hoei eruption and took place 49 years after the Great Hoei earthquake, one of the biggest earthquakes to have ever hit Japan. This created three new volcanic vents. This eruption caused lava flows and spread volcanic ash across the Edo region (now Tokyo) sixty miles from the volcano. This was a 4 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.
Since the last eruption, earthquakes are monitored, with the last one of note being a 6.4 on the Richter Scale in 2011. These natural catastrophes haven’t stopped the Japanese from regularly climbing the mountain.
Find out how to plan a trip to Mount Fuji.
Mount Fuji in Popular Culture
Mount Fuji is only open two months of the year: July and August. During many Japanese and international tourists head up the summit to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thus, many people head up the mountain at night so they can enjoy the sunrise. However, you need to be careful when heading up Mount Fuji. As the proverb goes:
“He who climbs Mt. Fuji is a wise man; he who climbs twice is a fool.”
Mount Fuji is also sadly known for Aokigahara, the suicide forest. Nowadays, there are measures to discourage those considering taking their own lives.
The sacred Japanese mountain is also ever-present in popular culture. Here are some examples of works featuring the mountain:
- Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai.
- The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō by Horishige.
- Fuji, a 1974 film.
- Ko no Umi, a 2004 film.
- Video games such as Okami, Pokémon, and Inazuma Eleven all have Mount Fuji or Fuji-inspired mountains.
Mount Fuji continues to inspire artists just as it inspired beliefs throughout the years. Climbing to the top of this natural Japanese sanctuary is an essential activity for anyone visiting it.
Find out what else there is to do at Mount Fuji.
Now that you know a bit more about Mount Fuji, you can start planning your trip to Japan. To learn more about Japan and its main cities, check out our other articles on the subject.
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