Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain and a classic symmetrical stratovolcano. It rises to 3,776 metres on Honshu, near Tokyo, and is one of the world’s most recognizable volcanic peaks.
The modern cone formed above older volcanic structures through repeated eruptions. Its last confirmed eruption began in December 1707 and continued into early 1708. This event, known as the Hōei eruption, produced ash that reached Edo, now Tokyo.
Fuji’s shape has made it an important subject in Japanese art, literature, pilgrimage, and religious tradition. In 2013, UNESCO listed Fujisan as a World Cultural Heritage site because of its cultural significance and artistic influence.
Mount Fuji is dormant rather than extinct. The volcano remains monitored because its magma system is still considered potentially active. It is also distinct from nearby Hakone, another volcanic area often associated with the region but not part of Mount Fuji itself.