Mount Fuji Facts for Kids

A picture of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) is the tallest mountain in Japan. It stands 3,776 metres (12,388 ft) high. Mount Fuji is also a volcano. You can find it on the border between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture.

Mount Fuji is a very famous symbol of Japan. Many artists have painted it, and lots of people have taken its picture. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan on June 22, 2013. The last time this volcano erupted was a long time ago, from 1707 to 1708.

Is Mount Fuji an Active Volcano?
Mount Fuji and Shinto Religion
Climbing Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji in Art
Images for kids
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Is Mount Fuji an Active Volcano?

Mount Fuji is officially called an active volcano. However, some people think it is a dormant (sleeping) or inactive volcano.

The last big eruption was called the Hōei eruption of Mount Fuji. It started on December 16, 1707, and ended around January 1, 1708. During this time, ash and cinders from Mount Fuji fell like rain. This happened in areas like Izu Province, Kai Province, Sagami Province, and Musashi Province.

Mount Fuji and Shinto Religion

Many people believe Mount Fuji is named after Fuchi, a fire goddess. The mountain is considered sacred (holy) in the Shinto religion. At the bottom of the mountain, there are special places called shrines. These shrines are dedicated to a goddess named Konohananosakuya-hime (コノハナノサクヤヒメ).

Climbing Mount Fuji

Lots of people climb Mount Fuji every year. The best time to climb is during the summer. The official climbing season is from July 25 to August 25. There are three main paths for climbing on the Shizuoka side of the mountain.

There is even a post office at the very top of Mount Fuji! It is only open in the summer. This post office was built in 1909. It is the highest post office in all of Japan.

Mount Fuji in Art

In 2009, Mount Fuji was chosen as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. These landscapes best show modern Japan and its culture. Many famous artworks feature Mount Fuji.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1832), from 36 Views of Mount Fuji, by Hokusai
Red Fuji by Hokusai
Hodogaya on the Tokaido Road by Hokusai
The sea off Satta, Suruga (Suruga Satta no Kaijō) by Hiroshige (1859)
Mt. Fuji seen across a plain by Hiroshige
Surugacho (Suruga Street) (1856), from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo by Hiroshige. This picture shows the Echigoya kimono and money exchange store with Mount Fuji in the background.

Images for kids

Fine Wind, Clear Morning woodblock print by Hokusai, 19th century
Mount Fuji from Omiya, around 1890
A cross-section showing the geology of Fuji volcano. N2 = Tertiary sedimentary rocks; αN2 = Tertiary volcanic rocks; αQ1 = Komitake volcano; α-δQ1 = Ashitaka volcano; βQ2 = Older Fuji volcano; αβQ2 = Younger Fuji volcano.
The crater with the Eight Sacred Peaks (Hasshin-po)
Aokigahara forest with Mount Fujii and Mount Ashiwada
A view of Mount Fuji from the Taisekiji temple by Katsushika Hokusai. From The one hundred views of Mount Fuji, around 1834.
An old illustration of the routes to Mount Fuji
A Torii gate near the summit
Hikers climbing Mount Fuji
The outer shrine of Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha
Fuji in early summer seen from the International Space Station (May 2001)
A view from space from the Space Shuttle Columbia mission (2003)
Fuji with persimmon-drying in autumn
Mount Fuji behind the Taisekiji temple
Mount Fuji from Lake Motosu. This view is on the thousand yen bill and the old five thousand yen bill.
Mount Fuji as seen across the Tokyo skyline in Shinjuku
A view of Mount Fuji from the Fuji-Q Highland theme park
Mount Fuji seen from Jurigi Plateau in Susono, Shizuoka
A Lenticular cloud over Mount Fuji seen from Mount Ogochi
The outline of Mount Fuji seen from Mount Kita
A panorama of Mount Fuji
A view of Mount Fuji from Tenjoyama Park, overlooking Kawaguchiko
Fuji Excursion train
The battleship USS New Mexico anchored in Tokyo Bay with Mount Fuji in the background, August 1945
A 3D computer simulation of Mount Fuji.