Mt. Fuji is widely known as a symbol of Japan. When you think of Mt. Fuji, the common image of it may be a beautiful conical mountain covered with snow on top. However, the snow melts in summer and the volcanic crater becomes more visible. As this mountain has long been dormant since the last eruption in 1707, we tend to forget this is still active and the specialists foresee the next big eruption will be coming sooner or later. The eruption in 1707 caused serious damage to Edo, present Tokyo. All the cultivated fields around Edo were entirely covered with volcanic ash, 4 cm thick, from Mt. Fuji, consequently then Edo people suffered from the serious famine. Even today, if this mountain erupts, Tokyo necessarily would be largely devastated with the volcanic ash, in the whole range of human activity. The distance between Tokyo and Mt. Fuji is no more than 100km.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
