TOKYO (ANN/JAPAN NEWS) – Mount Fuji has broken the record for the latest snowcap formation in its history, with its peak still awaiting its first snowfall as of Saturday. This year marks the latest snowcap formation since records began 130 years ago, surpassing the previous record of October 26 set in 1955 and matched in 2016.
The first snowcap on Mt. Fuji traditionally heralds the arrival of winter. However, higher-than-average temperatures are believed to be the reason for the delayed snowfall, according to the Kofu Local Meteorological Office.
Weather officials, stationed about 40 kilometers from the mountain, have been confirming the season’s first snowcap since 1894. They noted that cloudy weather around Mt. Fuji or in the surrounding areas could hinder visibility, making it difficult to confirm snowfall even if it has occurred.
Yuka Shimizu, a worker at a green tea shop on Honcho-dori shopping street in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, expressed her anticipation for the first snowcap. “We usually enjoy the sight of a snowcapped Mt. Fuji against the backdrop of autumn colors at this time of year. I’m looking forward to the first snowcap so that I can appreciate the changing of the seasons,” she said.
