Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji finally received its trademark snowcap early on Wednesday, marking the most delayed snowfall in 130 years. This first sighting was reported from the southwestern side of the mountain by the Shizuoka branch of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). However, the Kofu Local Meteorological Office, which has been responsible for the official announcement since 1984, couldn’t confirm the snow due to cloudy conditions, thereby keeping the declaration unofficial for now.
The long-awaited snow arrival comes after the previous record for the latest snowfall, set on October 26, 2016, was broken. Normally, Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776 meters (nearly 12,300 feet) high, starts seeing snow on its summit by October 2, shortly after the summer hiking season concludes. In contrast, last year, snowfall was observed on October 5, according to the JMA.
The unusually bare summit of Mt. Fuji has become a hot topic on social media, where users have shared photos of the snowless peak. Some expressed surprise, while others voiced concerns about climate change. The JMA’s Kofu office attributed the delay to October’s surprisingly warm weather, noting higher-than-usual temperatures across Japan, including atop Mt. Fuji.
Kiryu, a representative from the JMA, explained that the clouds around the summit have obstructed views since Wednesday morning, delaying the confirmation of the snowcap. However, officials are still working to obtain a clear view. Kiryu also suggested that it is premature to link this delayed snow to global warming, noting that last year’s first snow occurred in early October. He said, “I think we need to examine data for a longer period of time to make any conclusion.”
The average October temperature at Mount Fuji’s summit usually hovers around minus 2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit). This year, however, it reached a record high of 1.6 degrees Celsius (34.9 degrees Fahrenheit), the hottest since records began in 1932. Japan also experienced an unusually hot summer and warm autumn this year.
A symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji, known locally as “Fujisan,” was historically a site of pilgrimage and has inspired countless works of art, including the famous “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” by ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai. Today, the mountain draws hikers eager to see the sunrise from its peak. However, the growing problem of trash and overcrowding has led to calls for better environmental protection and measures to manage tourism.
Weather forecaster and climber Jun Kubota, who grew up in Yamanashi, one of the prefectures that host Mount Fuji, expressed concerns about the delayed snowfall. “I wonder if the season we can enjoy the snow is getting shorter, not just at Mt. Fuji but also on other mountains in central Japan or on Hokkaido,” he said during a Zoom call. Kubota also highlighted recent reports of snow shortages on ski slopes, worrying that this trend could impact not only snow mountain climbing but also winter sports in general.
