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Mount Fuji

Japan's Sacred Peak and Tallest Volcano

Elevation

3,776 m

Last Eruption

1707 (Hōei eruption)

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Japan

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskHigh
Infrastructure RiskModerate
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity319 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Real-time seismic monitoring
Geological Survey of Japan
Geochemical monitoring
Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database
JMA Volcano Info
Japan Meteorological Agency

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a wooden deck with a view of a mountain and trees

Neethu George

via Unsplash

a snow covered mountain with low clouds in the foreground

Zeke Tucker

via Unsplash

aerial view of city buildings near mountain during daytime

David Maunsell

via Unsplash

a snow covered mountain surrounded by pine trees

Junel Mujar

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A view of a snow covered mountain in the distance

Kiko K

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A lake with a mountain in the background

Kiko K

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Interesting Facts

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Mount Fuji is the tallest peak in Japan at 3,776 m (12,389 ft) and the tallest volcano in the country — yet its summit is less than 100 km from the center of Tokyo, one of the world's largest cities.

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Fuji's 1707 Hōei eruption was triggered 49 days after the Hōei earthquake (M8.6) — the last time a great megathrust earthquake in the Nankai Trough preceded a major volcanic eruption in Japan.

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The eruption deposited ash on Edo (Tokyo), causing darkness at midday — a scenario that Japanese hazard planners actively model for today because of its devastating implications for modern infrastructure.

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More than 100 parasitic cones and vents dot Fuji's flanks — more than almost any other stratovolcano on Earth.

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The Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) were created when lava flows from Fuji blocked river valleys against the Misaka Mountains — two of the lakes (Saiko and Shōji) are remnants of a single larger lake split by the 864 AD Jōgan lava flow.

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Aokigahara — the dense forest on Fuji's northwestern flank known as the 'Sea of Trees' — grows on the rugged lava surface of the 864 AD Jōgan eruption.

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Katsushika Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' (c. 1831), one of the most recognizable artworks in history, features Mount Fuji in the background — part of his series 'Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.'

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Fuji's current 300+ year dormancy is the longest quiet period in its 10,500-year eruptive record — previous repose intervals typically lasted only decades to about 200 years.

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Approximately 300,000 people climb to Fuji's summit each year during the official July–September season, making it one of the most-climbed mountains in the world.

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Mount Fuji's near-perfect conical shape is unusual for a basaltic stratovolcano and is the product of its complex three-layered structure (Komitake, Ko-Fuji, and Younger Fuji) and relatively uniform eruption rate.

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The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake (M9.1) increased pressure in Fuji's magma chamber and triggered a M5.4 earthquake directly beneath the mountain — temporarily raising concerns about a potential eruption.

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Since 2024, the Yoshida climbing trail requires advance reservation and a ¥2,000 fee, with a daily cap of 4,000 climbers to address overcrowding on Japan's most iconic mountain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Fuji still active?
Yes, Mount Fuji is classified as an active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Although it has not erupted since the Hōei eruption of 1707–1708, the volcano shows continued signs of internal activity, including occasional earthquake swarms, fumarolic emissions at the summit, and hot springs on its flanks. Volcanologists define an active volcano as one that has erupted within the Holocene epoch (last 11,700 years) or shows geophysical unrest. Fuji's 67 recorded eruptions over 10,500 years and its tectonic setting at a subduction zone triple junction confirm it remains capable of future eruptions. The current dormancy of 300+ years is historically anomalous — not evidence of extinction.
When did Mount Fuji last erupt?
Mount Fuji last erupted on December 16, 1707, in what is known as the Hōei eruption — a VEI 5 explosive event that lasted approximately 16 days until January 1, 1708. The eruption was triggered 49 days after the Hōei earthquake (M8.6) on the Nankai Trough. It ejected approximately 0.68 km³ of basaltic tephra, deposited ash on Edo (Tokyo), and created the Hōei craters on the southeastern flank. The subsequent 300+ years without eruption represent the longest dormant interval in Fuji's known eruptive history.
Could Mount Fuji erupt again?
Yes, volcanologists consider a future eruption of Mount Fuji not only possible but probable on geological timescales. The volcano has averaged roughly one eruption every 50–150 years during its historical period, making the current 300+ year dormancy unusually long. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake increased pressure in Fuji's magma system, and studies have confirmed that a pressurized magma chamber exists beneath the volcano. The Japan Meteorological Agency and Cabinet Office have published detailed hazard scenarios, and the Japanese government updated its Fuji eruption disaster plan in 2020 to address ashfall impacts on Greater Tokyo. However, no monitoring data currently indicates an imminent eruption.
How tall is Mount Fuji?
Mount Fuji stands at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft) above sea level, making it the tallest peak in Japan. The high point is Kengamine, on the southern rim of the summit crater. The summit crater itself is approximately 780 m (2,560 ft) in diameter and 250 m (820 ft) deep. Fuji's height has varied over geological time as eruptions added material and collapses removed it. For comparison, it is taller than Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in the United States by prominence but shorter in absolute elevation, and substantially shorter than Klyuchevskoy (4,835 m) in Russia.
What type of volcano is Mount Fuji?
Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano — a type built from alternating layers of lava flows and explosive pyroclastic deposits. Its predominantly basaltic magma composition is somewhat unusual for a stratovolcano, as most produce more silica-rich (andesitic to dacitic) magma. Fuji's structure is actually a complex of three overlapping volcanoes: Komitake (oldest), Ko-Fuji (Old Fuji), and the modern Younger Fuji. Its near-perfect conical symmetry makes it the world's most recognizable example of a stratovolcano, though geologists note that its shape is more complex than it appears.
What would happen if Mount Fuji erupted today?
A Hōei-scale eruption (VEI 5) would deposit 2–10 cm of ash across the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area, potentially affecting 27 million people. Modeling by the Japanese Cabinet Office predicts disruption to rail networks (including the Shinkansen), closure of Haneda and Narita airports, failure of water treatment systems, power outages from transformer short-circuits, and respiratory health emergencies. Lahars could flow down river valleys toward Gotemba and surrounding communities. Economic losses have been estimated at trillions of yen. Evacuation plans exist for 750,000 people in the immediate hazard zone, but the broader ashfall area is too large for evacuation.
Can you climb Mount Fuji?
Yes, Mount Fuji is open for climbing during the official season from early July to mid-September. Four trails lead to the summit: Yoshida (most popular, from the north), Subashiri (east), Gotemba (southeast), and Fujinomiya (south). Most climbers start from the Fifth Station at approximately 2,300 m. The ascent takes 5–8 hours, with many climbers doing overnight hikes to catch sunrise from the summit. Since 2024, the Yoshida trail requires a ¥2,000 fee and advance reservation with a daily limit of 4,000 climbers. Mountain huts provide basic accommodation. Altitude sickness, rapid weather changes, and hypothermia are real hazards even in summer.
Why is Mount Fuji sacred?
Mount Fuji has been a sacred site in Shinto and Buddhist traditions for over 1,000 years. In Shinto, the mountain is the dwelling of the deity Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess of blooming flowers. Pilgrimages to the summit began as early as the 7th century, and during the Edo period, Fuji-kō devotional societies organized mass ascents for thousands of followers. The Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha grand shrine at the base has claimed ownership of the summit since an 1609 shogunal grant. UNESCO's 2013 World Heritage designation specifically recognized Fuji as a 'Sacred Place and Source of Artistic Inspiration' — acknowledging its spiritual and cultural role rather than just its natural beauty.