MOUNT FUJI STILL WITHOUT SNOW

For the first time in 130 years, Mount Fuji still doesn’t have snow.

Japan’s iconic mountain is usually covered with snow on the top by now, but there’s still no sign of the white powder.

Since 1894, Japan’s Kofu Local Meteorological Office has announced the arrival of the snow. But this year, no announcement has been made yet.

Usually, snowcaps are visible on Mount Fuji by 2 October. Last year, the snowcap was visible on 5 October already although most of it melted away by the beginning of November.

Shinichi Yanagi, a meteorological officer at the Kofu office, told CNN that the high temperatures are to blame for the snow staying away.

“Because of the fact that high temperatures in Japan have been continuing since the summer and as it has been raining, there has been no snowfall.”

This year has given Japan its hottest summer ever on record since statistics began in 1898.

The previous record was set in 1955 and again in 2016 when snow finally arrived on 26 October.

CNN reports that in recent years, the mountain has suffered overtourism, and Japanese officials previously told CNN that visitors were littering, overtaxing toilet facilities and hiking in improper gear, which resulted in accidents or injuries.

Image credit: Snowbrains