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Japan: For the first time in 130 years, it has yet to snow on Mount Fuji in October

By late October, snowflakes had yet to cover Japan’s highest peak, the first since records began in 1894. In 2024, the country experienced its scorching summer since records were first recorded, equaling the 2023 record. .

The snow is coming. Mount Fuji, symbol of Japan, remains snowless this Wednesday, October 30, as never before on this date since records began 130 years ago, the Japanese meteorological agency announced.

On average, the summit of this volcano begins to be covered with snow on October 2. Last year, the first snowflakes were seen on October 5.

But this year, due to high temperatures, no snowfall was observed there, reported Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at the local meteorological service in Kofu, central Japan.

Climate change

Since records began in 1894, the first snowfall had not been observed after October 26, a record measured twice, in 1955 and 2016.

“This summer, as in September, temperatures were high, which prevented the passage of cold air” that caused snowfall, explains Yutaka Katsuta.

According to him, climate change is possibly partly responsible for this delay. In 2024, Japan experienced its hottest summer since records were first recorded, equaling the 2023 record.

Mount Fuji is covered in snow most of the year, except between July and September. Many hikers then choose to visit it at dusk to watch the sunrise from its summit, at 3,776 meters above sea level.

Measures to combat overtourism

However, Japan’s most famous mountain has seen a significant drop in attendance this season, as a result of Japanese authorities’ decision to introduce an entrance fee and daily quota to combat overtourism.

This summer, the Ministry of the Environment recorded around 178,000 hikers, compared to around 205,000 the previous year and before the Covid-19 pandemic, a decrease of 14% between the beginning of July and the beginning of September.

Mount Fuji is about two hours by train from the center of Tokyo and can be seen from dozens of kilometers around, especially from the capital. This majestic mountain is a symbol of Japan immortalized in countless works of art, including Hokusai’s “The Great Wave.” Its last volcanic eruption occurred three centuries ago.

Author: Salomé Robles with AFP
Source: BFM TV

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