Mount Fuji - World Heritage Geology, White Slopes Explained, Eruptions

Mount Fuji (3,776 m), registered in 2013 as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Rising to 3,776 m (12,388 ft), Fujisan is a basaltic stratovolcano whose seasonally white crown and near-perfect cone have stirred faith and art for centuries. Inscribed by UNESCO in 2013 as “Fujisan — sacred place and source of artistic inspiration,” the property spans the summit zone and 25 cultural components around the base—from Sengen shrines and oshi lodgings to lakes and lava-formed features.

Brief Timeline

Year	Event
Jōmon–historic	Repeated volcanic activity lays down wide lava fields
AD 864–866	Jōgan eruption: NW-flowing lava helps form present-day Lakes Sai & Shōji; Aokigahara forest later grows on the flows
AD 1707–1708	Hōei eruption: SE-flank crater; ash falls reach Edo (~100 km)
2013	UNESCO inscription as a cultural landscape (Criteria iii, vi)
2024	Yoshida Trail crowding controls begin (daily cap, night restrictions); fee introduced on Yamanashi side
2025	¥4,000 entrance/hiking fee applied on all trails; controls refined for safety and conservation

At a glance

UNESCO inscription	2013
UNESCO ID	1418
Criteria	(iii), (vi) — sacred tradition & artistic inspiration
Property	Summit zone + 25 component sites around the base
Type	Cultural Landscape
Elevation	3,776 m (12,388 ft)

How Mount Fuji Became a World Heritage Landscape

Era	From 12th-century ascetic Buddhism through Edo-period Fuji-kō pilgrimages to modern conservation
Patrons & Stewards	Sengen-jinja shrine networks, oshi (pilgrim guides), local governments, and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment
Place	Yamanashi & Shizuoka Prefectures, ~100 km SW of Tokyo
People	Pilgrims and mountain ascetics; artists such as Hokusai & Hiroshige
Plan	Summit-rim shrines and pilgrim routes integrated with lakes, springs, waterfalls, and sacred volcanic features
“Construction”	Natural volcanic formation (basaltic lava, scoria, ash) shaped by eruptions and later codified by routes, huts, and shrines

World Heritage Facts & Visitor Numbers

Item	Current detail	Notes
Climbing season	Typically July 1 – early September	Weather can close trails at any time
Daily cap (Yoshida Trail)	4,000 people/day	Gate controls at 5th Station; hut reservations are exempt from the cap during restricted hours
Gate hours (Yoshida)	Restrictions 14:00–03:00	To curb unsafe “bullet climbing”
Entrance / hiking fee	¥4,000 per person (all trails, 2025–)	Online reservation recommended; enforcement at trail gates
Total climbers 2023	≈ 221,322	Environment Ministry figure
Total climbers 2024	≈ 204,316	Decline after new controls

Materials

Category	Mount Fuji	Notes
Main stone	Basalt	Olivine–pyroxene–plagioclase; fluid lavas built the cone
Secondary	Scoria, ash, lapilli, pumice	Layered tephra on flanks
Core/Backing	Volcanic edifice	Not an architectural “core” but a natural stratovolcano
Inlay / dark stone for script	—	Not applicable
Metals	—	Not applicable
Granite as primary material	Not used	Fuji is not a granite mountain

Why Basalt, Not Granite?

Granite crystallizes slowly at depth and excels as a durable building stone in temples, gardens, and stone lanterns—the “static” stone of cultural endurance. Fuji’s landscape is “dynamic”: hot basalt erupted at the surface, cooled quickly, and spread in broad sheets, creating cinder slopes and lava fields. That is why the mountain’s slopes can look gray-white (snow, light ash/pumice, and weathered basalt) in some seasons and dark in others.

Legends — Myth vs Fact

Theme	Myth & Faith	What the record shows
Deity	Asama no Ōkami resides at the summit	Summit-rim shrines and ohachimeguri (circumambulation) attest to long veneration
Purification	Water ablutions at sacred lakes and springs	Five Lakes and springs used for mizugori before ascents
Artistic icon	Fuji as the perfect cone	Ukiyo-e by Hokusai/Hiroshige shaped global imagery of Japan

Care, Time, and the Color of Memory

To balance access and preservation, authorities now cap Yoshida Trail entries, control night passage, and charge a ¥4,000 fee on all trails (2025–). These measures respond to overtourism, safety incidents, and trail degradation while preserving the site’s sacred atmosphere for pilgrims and hikers alike.

My Personal Pledge — Returning to the Summit

When I was about ten, I attempted to climb Mount Fuji but, as a child, had to turn back. The sense of defeat has stayed with me. To overcome it, I pledge here to climb Fuji again, capture the summit in my own photos, and publish the story on this blog.

For me, Fuji is not only a World Heritage site—it is a lifelong challenge. I look forward to sharing that moment of redemption with you.

FAQ

• Is Fuji made of granite? No. It is predominantly basalt with layers of scoria, ash, and pumice.
• Why do Fuji’s slopes look white? Seasonal snow, light-toned ash/pumice reflecting sunlight, and weathered basalt lighten the view.
• Do I need to reserve? Online gate reservations are recommended on the Yoshida Trail; hut bookings allow passage during restricted hours.
• What is the fee? ¥4,000 per person (all trails, per climb) collected at gates in season.
• Best timing? Early season weekdays or post-Obon windows offer lighter crowds; always check the official site for closures.

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Last updated (JST): August 28, 2025