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Tuesday, 13th October 2015
In Weather In Japan,
Snow falls on Mount Fuji for the first time this year
The view of Mount Fuji is one of the most iconic in Japan and there is only one thing that can make it more beautiful - snow.
For the first time in 2015, the instantly recognisable peak has been given a dusting of the white stuff, making it all the more enchanting.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the snowfall, which occurred on Sunday (October 11th) morning, came five days earlier than last year.
Despite this, it was 11 days later than the average year, as the region experienced higher temperatures than usual throughout the summer.
The flurry of snow was accompanied by temperatures of minus 2.3 degrees at 3am, the agency confirmed.
Now is a particularly spectacular time to see Mount Fuji, as the snow contrasts with the colours of the autumn foliage that lines its slopes.
The mountain is the highest peak in Japan at 3,776 metres and is also an active volcano, although it hasn't erupted since 1707.
Considered one of the three sacred mountains in Japan, Mount Fuji has been a pilgrimage site for hundreds of years and hiking to the top is still a popular activity to this day.
As well as being a physical presence in Japan, the image of Mount Fuji is a cultural one, which has been reproduced by artists throughout the ages.
Most famously, the Edo period artist Ando Hiroshige created a series of woodblock prints called 36 Views of Mount Fuji.
These 1852 landscapes are each depicted from a different location and varying distances from the peak.
They also show Mount Fuji in many contrasting seasons and weather conditions, aiming to create an overall picture of the landscape at any time of year.
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