Mount Fuji in Japan has broken a 130-year record by remaining snow-free as of Wednesday, surpassing the previous latest snowfall dates of October 26 in 1955 and 2016, with snow typically beginning to form on October 2.
The delay is attributed to unusually warm temperatures that continued from summer into September, with officials noting potential links to climate change, particularly as Japan experienced its joint-hottest summer on record this year.
While the iconic 3,776-meter mountain typically hosts over 220,000 hikers during its summer season and remains snow-covered most of the year, this year saw fewer visitors due to new tourism restrictions including entry fees and daily visitor caps.
This unprecedented absence of snow on Mount Fuji, a symbol immortalized in Japanese art and culture, comes amidst growing concerns about global climate impacts.
