Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 12,388 ft.   An active volcano that last erupted in 1707–08, it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshu, surrounded by three small cities (gotemba, Fujiyoshida and Fujinomiya.

Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.

Scientists have identified four distinct phases of volcanic activity in the formation of Mt. Fuji. The first phase, called Sen-komitake, is composed of an andesite  core recently discovered deep within the mountain. Sen-komitake  was followed by the "Komitake Fuji," a basalt layer believed to be formed several hundred thousand years ago. Approximately 100,000 years ago, "Old Fuji" was formed over the top of Komitake Fuji. The modern, "New Fuji" is believed to have formed over the top of Old Fuji around 10,000 years ago.

The volcano is currently classified as active with a low risk of eruption. The last recorded eruption  started on December 16, 1707 and ended about January 1, 1708.   This is sometimes called "the Great Hoei Eruption.”  Fuji spewed cinders and ash which fell like rain in Izu, Kai, Sagami and Musashi.  Since then, there have been no signs of an eruption.

At this time, a new crater, along with a second peak, named Hōei-zan, formed halfway down its side.

The origin of the name Fuji is unclear. An early folk etymology claims that Fuji came from the kanjiis   不二 (not + two), meaning without equal or nonpareil. Another claims that it came from 不尽 (not + exhaust), meaning neverending.

 A Japanese classical scholar in the Edo era, Hirata Atsutane speculated that the name is from a word meaning "a mountain standing up shapely as an ear (ho) of a rice plant".

A British missionary John Batchelor (1854-1944) argued that the name is from the Ainu word for 'fire' (fuchi) of the fire deity (Kamui Fuchi),  which was denied by a Japanese linguist, Kyosuke Kindaichi  on the grounds of phonetic development.

t is thought that the first ascent was in 663 by an anonymous monk. The summit has been thought of as sacred since ancient times and was forbidden to women until the Meiji Era..

Mount Fuji is an attractive volcanic cone and a frequent subject of Japanese art.  The mountain is also mentioned in Japanese literature throughout the ages and the subject of many poems.

Mt. Fuji also houses a warrior tradition.

Ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a remote training area, near the present day town of Gotemba. The shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo held yabusame in the area in the early Kamakura period.

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