Mount Fuji in Japan remained snow-free on Tuesday, marking the latest date for snowlessness since records began 130 years ago, according to Japan’s weather agency.
Typically, the snowcap on the volcano forms by October 2, with snow first spotted on October 5 last year. However, no snowfall has been recorded yet this season due to unusually warm weather, reported Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office. This breaks the previous latest record of October 26, set in both 1955 and 2016.
“High summer temperatures lingered into September, preventing the cold air needed for snow,” Katsuta told AFP, suggesting that climate change could be a factor in this delay.
This year’s summer tied with 2023 as Japan’s hottest, with heatwaves driven by climate change impacting regions worldwide. Mount Fuji is typically snow-covered most of the year, though from July to September, during the hiking season, over 220,000 climbers usually scale its slopes, often timing their ascent to catch the sunrise from the 3,776-meter peak.
However, fewer people climbed Fuji this year, as Japan introduced entry fees and daily visitor caps to address overtourism. The iconic, symmetrical mountain, celebrated in Hokusai’s “Great Wave,” last erupted around 300 years ago.
The delay in Mount Fuji’s snowfall has sparked discussions about the impacts of climate change on Japan’s natural landmarks. Katsuta noted that while the immediate cause of this year’s late snowcap was unusually warm temperatures extending into early autumn, the broader trend may indicate shifting climate patterns affecting seasonal cycles across the country.
Environmentalists and climate experts in Japan have raised concerns that warmer winters and altered precipitation patterns could increasingly threaten the landscapes and ecosystems traditionally associated with Japan’s cultural and natural heritage. The delay on Mount Fuji, one of the most iconic peaks globally, highlights the visible effects of global warming, drawing public attention to Japan’s own climate challenges.
Meanwhile, the country has been actively working to manage its popular tourist sites. The government’s measures to limit the number of climbers on Mount Fuji reflect broader efforts to balance tourism with preservation. Over the last decade, overtourism has posed serious challenges, especially for natural sites like Fuji, which not only face erosion and litter issues from high foot traffic but also the strain of managing the influx of visitors on fragile ecosystems.
Authorities plan to review the effectiveness of these new restrictions, which include entry fees and climber caps, and adjust policies as necessary to protect both the environment and visitor experience. For the future, Japan’s tourism and environmental management strategies may increasingly focus on sustainable practices to ensure that natural icons like Mount Fuji are preserved amidst growing environmental and climate pressures.
