JP097Mount Fuji

Site Description

Forest

Fuji-goko area: Mt. Fuji (3,776 m) is the highest mountain in Japan and an independent peak that was formed with lava and volcanic ashes in relatively recent times. At the alpine belt (above 2,400 m), there are Larix kaempferi, Alnus maximowiczii and natural forests without Pinus pumila. At the subalpine belt (1,800-2,400 m), there are single or mixed natural forests of species such as Larix kaempferi, Abies veitchii and Betula emanii. The mountain belt at elevations of about 700-1,800 m on Yamanashi Pref. side (Fuji-goko area or the north foot of Mt. Fuji) is roughly classified into natural forests of Chamaecyparis obtusa and Tsuga sieboldii, afforested areas (mainly with Larix leptolepis and Abies veitchii) and secondary grassland areas.

Asagiri-kogen highlands (600-900 m high) is located in Shizuoka Prefecture, ranging from the western foot of Mt. Fuji to Mt. Kenashiyama. The site used to be grasslands, but they are decreasing year by year. Now these areas are mainly farmlands, meadows, afforested areas, shrubs, areas where not much grows because of lava deposits, golf courses and amusement facilities.

Area & Coordinates

15,000ha 35°22′N 138°44′E
region: Kohshinetsu Hokuriku

Category

A3

Designation Type

National Park, National Monument

Protection Status

Protected

Conservation issues

• Recreation/tourism
• Industrialization/urbanization
• Abandonment/reduction of land management
• Naturalevents