Mount Fuji Facts

With a total surface area of 145,925 sq mi - Japan may not be a huge country as such, but this small island nation of Asia has a lot of things to boast about and Mount Fuji is just one of them. Irrespective of whether it is a compilation of fun facts about japan or some interesting facts about the island nation, it can never be considered complete without the inclusion of Japan's revered Mt. Fuji.

Interesting Facts on Mount Fuji

At 3,776.24 m or 12,389 ft, Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain peak in Japan. The symmetrical cone of this active stratovolcano (composite volcano) is nothing short of a identity symbol for this island nation. It is considered to one of the Three Holy Mountains of Japan, alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku.

1. Mount Fuji is located near the Pacific coast of Honshu - Japan's largest island. In terms of coordinates, its location can be traced to 35°21′28.8″N and 138°43′51.6″E.
2. It is located at a distance of 63 miles (approximately 100 km) from the capital city of Japan - Tokyo. Such magnificent is this geological structure that it can be seen from Tokyo itself on a clear day.
3. Nobody knows for sure how the mountain got its name. According to one of the most popular theory, it is named after the Buddhist goddess of fire - Fuchi.
4. The circumference of Mount Fuji is 78 miles, while its diameter is around 25-30 miles in length. Its perfectly symmetrical shape has a crucial role to play in making it so appealing.
5. Mt. Fuji is surrounded by five beautiful lakes - Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Motosuko and Lake Shojiko.
6. The last volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji - referred to as 'The Hōei Eruption of Mount Fuji', occurred on 6th December 1707 and lasted till 1st January 1708.
7. While there is a great deal of confusion about its current status, Mt. Fuji is classified as an active volcano with a low risk of eruption.
8. The diameter of the crater surface of Mount Fuji measures 500 meters, while the crater depth for this volcano is 820 ft.
9. Even though it is allowed to descend into the deepest part of this crater, you need to take special permission and use proper climbing equipment to do the same.
10. Before Englishwoman Lady Parkes scaled Mt. Fuji in 1867 - to become the first woman to achieve this feat, women were legally barred from climbing this mountain. Parkes had to defy this 110 year old law to scale the summit.

Some Facts for Kids

1. Mount Fuji is located in the Chubu region on Honshu - the largest island of Japan.
2. It is also known as Fuji-san and Fujiyama, latter of which is technically incorrect.
3. Geological estimates suggest that Mt. Fuji was created around 600,000 years ago.
4. The last time Mount Fuji erupted was on 6th December, 1707.
5. The first person to climb Mount Fuji was a Japanese monk (name not known) in 663 AD.
6. In 1860, Sir Rutherford Alcock became the first foreign national to scale Mount Fuji.
7. In 1867, Lady Fanny Parkes became the first woman to ascend Mount Fuji.
8. The coldest temperature that has been recorded on Mt. Fuji is 36.4 °F.
9. The hottest temperature that has been recorded on this mountain is 64.0 °F.
10. The Japanese Buddhists believe that Mt. Fuji is a gateway to the other world.

If you intend to visit this geological marvel, the best time would be somewhere between July and August - which is the climbing season for this mountain. If you would be more than happy having a glimpse of the same from far instead of literally hiking all the way to the top - you can opt for some time between October and March, when the mountain is covered by snow and looks even more beautiful.