Snow finally has fallen on Mount Fiji after a 130 year long absence.
Snow fell on Japan a month later than expected, while the country was still recovering from one of its hottest summers.
The weather agency’s office in Kofu officially confirmed the presence of snow on Mount Fuji’s peak on Thursday, November 7 2024. The agency was unable to confirm presence of snow on Wednesday due to clouds obstructing the view of the summit. This sighting was the most delayed since the sighting in 2023 when snow was first seen at the mountains summit on October 5, according to AFP news agency.
The mountain is located south-west of Tokyo, and it stands at 3,776m (12,460 ft). Mount Fuji last erupted just over 300 years ago and is visible from Tokyo’s capital on a sunlight and blue sky day.
“While it’s hard to attribute delayed snowfall on Mount Fuji directly to climate change, it is in line with what experts predict in a warming world.” (quote from a BBC news article)
Mount Fuji has long been revered a spiritual, political, and cultural symbol for Japan and its various cultures. This has been in part because it’s snowy cap –which often remains coated in snow because of its high elevation– is said to lend an eternal quality. With snow returning to the mountain, for the people of Japan and their cultures this means special significance and a reason for celebration after the snows long absence.
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