Japan is home to Mount Fuji, a volcano and national symbol rising 3,776 metres.
Mount Fuji stands on Honshu, Japan’s largest island, southwest of Tokyo. It is a stratovolcano formed through successive volcanic stages, and its present cone is the youngest of three major volcanic structures at the site. The mountain’s symmetrical shape has made it a major subject of Japanese art and literature.
Fuji last erupted in 1707 during the Hōei eruption, which deposited ash across nearby areas. Although dormant, it remains classified as an active volcano because it has erupted within the period used by Japanese geological authorities.
The mountain has long connections with pilgrimage and religious practice. In 2013, UNESCO listed “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration” as a World Heritage cultural site. The official climbing season generally runs through the summer, when routes are less affected by snow.