What are the key facts about Mount Fuji?
Quick answer
Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain at 3,776.24 meters, an active stratovolcano on the border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures about 100km west of Tokyo. It last erupted in 1707-08 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, listed for its cultural significance rather than as a natural site.
Fuji is built from three successive volcanic layers (Komitake, Ko Fuji and Shin Fuji) and its near-perfect cone has made it a subject of Japanese art and pilgrimage for centuries. Unusually, the land from around the 8th station to the summit is privately owned by the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine, not the state.
Height and location
3,776.24 meters, the highest peak in Japan by a wide margin, on Honshu island straddling Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, roughly 100km (60 miles) west of Tokyo.
Volcanic status
An active stratovolcano, classified as such by geologists despite having not erupted since 1707-08 (the Hoei eruption). It is monitored, not dormant.
Cultural and UNESCO status
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as 'Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration' — a cultural listing, not a natural-heritage one, reflecting its centuries of religious pilgrimage and depiction in Japanese art.
How it compares
At 3,776m, Fuji is far shorter than famous international peaks like Kilimanjaro (5,895m) but its isolated, symmetrical cone rising almost from sea level gives it a visual prominence disproportionate to its height.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Mount Fuji?
3,776.24 meters (12,389 feet), the highest mountain in Japan.
Is Mount Fuji an active volcano?
Yes, geologists classify it as an active stratovolcano, though its last eruption was in 1707-08.
When did Mount Fuji last erupt?
1707-08, known as the Hoei eruption.
Is Mount Fuji a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, since 2013, listed for its cultural and artistic significance rather than as a natural heritage site.
Is Mount Fuji bigger than other famous mountains?
Not by height — at 3,776m it's shorter than peaks like Kilimanjaro (5,895m) — but its isolated, symmetrical shape rising near sea level gives it unusual visual prominence.
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