Mount Fuji sees its first snow, 15 days earlier than last year

First snow caps Mount Fuji this Season, later than average. (DotDotNews)

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory in Yamanashi Prefecture announced on Thursday (Oct. 23) that the first snowfall of the season, known as “hatsukansetsu,” had been observed on Mount Fuji (elevation 3,776 meters).

According to the observatory, staff visually confirmed noticeable snow accumulation near the summit around 6 am. This year’s first snowfall occurred 21 days later than the average but 15 days earlier than last year, which set the latest record since observations began in 1894.

Meteorological officials noted that clouds had covered the summit since Wednesday, and a cold air mass likely brought snow to the area. Data from the AMeDAS automated weather system showed that the temperature near the summit dropped to -6.4°C around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

This year marks the fourth-latest first snowfall on record. Since observations began, the average date for the first snowcap on Mount Fuji is Oct. 2. The earliest recorded occurrence was on Aug. 9, 2008, while the latest was on Nov. 7, 2024.