Mount Fuji, a globally recognized symbol of Japan, is often pictured with a pristine white cap, leading to the perception that it is perpetually snow-covered. This image is seasonal; the snow on its 3,776-meter peak is not a permanent feature. For a significant portion of the year, the summit is exposed and completely snow-free.
The Annual Cycle of Snowfall and Melt
The mountain’s snow cover typically arrives in late autumn, with the first snowfall, known as Hatsuyuki, occurring around the beginning of October. This initial dusting gradually builds into a consistent snowcap as winter progresses, fully blanketing the mountain by December or January. The snowpack remains through the coldest months, providing the iconic white cone visible from Tokyo.
The melting process begins in late spring, usually around May, and accelerates rapidly through June due to warming temperatures and the rainy season. By the time the official climbing season begins in early July, the mountain is largely devoid of snow. The period from early July to early September is when the mountain is bare, with the snow cover disappearing almost entirely before the cycle begins again.
Why Permanent Snow Cover Is Absent
The complete annual disappearance of snow is due to Mount Fuji’s geographical coordinates and specific climate patterns. Located at a relatively southern latitude (about 35.36° North), the mountain sits below the global altitude threshold required for a year-round snow line. Although the highest peak in Japan, its elevation is insufficient to maintain a continuous snowcap in this temperate region.
Seasonal warming patterns cause significant ablation, or melting, exacerbated by the mountain’s position near the Pacific Ocean. This maritime influence brings warmer, humid air masses that contribute to the complete annual melt. Although the summit’s average annual temperature is cold, the prolonged summer and early autumn warmth ensures that all accumulated snow from the previous winter is fully removed.
Distinguishing Seasonal Snow from Glacial Ice
The snow covering Mount Fuji is entirely seasonal and should not be confused with permanent glacial ice. True glaciers form when layers of snow compact and recrystallize into dense ice over many years, surviving the summer melt season. This requires a continuous accumulation zone where snow volume gained exceeds the volume lost through melting and sublimation.
Mount Fuji does not host any permanent glaciers, firn fields, or perennial snow patches. The complete annual melt prevents the sustained accumulation and compression of snow needed to create glacial ice. This absence is reflected in the mountain’s smooth, conical profile, which lacks the steep, U-shaped valleys and sharp ridges that glaciers carve into a landscape over time.