I am planning to summit Mt Fuji soon for the first time but I am nervous for a possible eruption as it is an active volcano and I see that an eruption soon is possible.
Other volcanos in Japan have erupted before killing climbers. Originally I thought the government wouldn’t allow climbing it if that was a possibility but I realized they are ok taking a risk as the timing is very unpredictable. They even list equipment to take for protection but in case of a big eruption it would be of little use.
Have you climbed it before and what do you think?
16 comments
Since it [hasn’t erupted for 300 years](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/last-eruption-mount-fuji) , you’d have to be pretty unlucky for it to suddenly do so the day you show up. If there are any rumblings or warning signs, they will shut it down and evacuate everyone quickly
I can see Mount Fuji from my house on a good day. It looks ok at the moment.
What the heck are you on about? Wrong island and volcano. Fuji is fine. Enjoy the sunrise.
As long as it’s an active volcano there is always a non-zero possibility of it erupting. Usually they can detect abnormal activity and evacuate climbers as precautionary measure, but sudden explosive eruptions are also not out of the question in which case you are astronomically unlucky and really can’t do anything about it.
I’m a four-time climber myself but the thought of an eruption never entered my mind (altitude sickness was my primary concern).
There are warning signs. Mt. Saint Helens blew up suddenly, but there were lots of significant geological events that were recorded and being observed that are now recognized as key warnings for super volcanoes. Mt Fuji hasn’t physically changed much and has been more or less quiet. There isn’t much scientific precedent for volcanoes to just blow up suddenly without first having significant geological events forcing a sudden change.
You should worry about Nankai megathrust earthquake wiping out most of the Kanto area first because it’s the most likely trigger for the eruption for Mt. Fuji.
I mean, natural disasters can happen any time. I wouldn’t worry too much about it though, but follow the official advice.
The chance of it erupting while *you* climb is very small. Will it ever erupt? Probably. Will someone climb while it erupts, it’s possible.
Normally I would say “You’ve got nothing to worry about as Ol Fuji-san hasn’t erupted in 300 years”, but there was a volcano in Australia or New Zealand not too long ago that erupted while there was a tour going on and quite a few people died. With that being said, you should look into what the geologist at the Japan Meteorological Agency are reporting before making your way up the mountain. I’m sure if there is an increase in activity then they would be reporting it.
I think you are more likely to die from sudden earthquake than you are to die from Fuji erupting while you are claimbing.
As has been mentioned multiple times now, the last big eruption of Mt. Fuji was three centuries ago, and the Japanese seismic survey system stays vigilant for any signs, anywhere in the country, that a volcano may be coming out of dormancy.
South of me a week or two ago, Mt. Sakurajima in Kagoshima got an evacuation alert because it was showing potential signs of full eruption (it’s been low-key eruption in progress for over a century now, but has occasional flare-ups). That turned out to be nothing, but they did evacuate the immediate area.
Same thing’s occasionally happened for Mt. Aso to my east, though that’s usually just an alert that they’re closing access to the viewing park around the crater for X length of time.
Earthquakes can catch you by surprise, but volcanos need to build up steam. If you know what to look out for — and rest assured, the seismic survey does — then there will be plenty of alerts.
I would say that if you’re that worried about a volcano erupting while you’re climbing it, then maybe volcano climbing isn’t for you.
Your risk of dying in a volcano eruption is highly reduced when you’re not climbing a volcano.
Just something to think about.
It’s not really active in the sense of erupting so much like Sakurajima. If it’s going to erupt, there will be lots of signs for scientists to see. Think of Mount Saint Helens. It didn’t just suddenly erupt, the whole side of the mountain was bulging and smoke was appearing from the top for 2 months before the huge eruption. Worry about earthquakes if you want to worry about something
Would be nuts if it erupted when you were on it lmao. Are you an unlucky person?
You will erupt when you see the prices at the top.
You should be more worried about the bears.
Thanks to the people who answered with real info rather than making fun of the risks.