Why is it World Heritage?
"The mountain where people have prayed for centuries"
Mount Fuji has long been revered as a sacred mountain, inspired by both its beautiful form and its repeated volcanic eruptions.
Beliefs that regarded the mountain itself as sacred, along with Fuji-ko groups that made pilgrimages to its summit, developed over time, making Mount Fuji one of Japan's most important objects of worship.
to a mountain to climb and pray upon.
"A mountain that inspired Japanese art"
Because of its beautiful form, Mount Fuji has been repeatedly depicted in literature and painting since ancient times.
In particular, depictions of Mount Fuji in ukiyo-e prints by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai had a major influence not only in Japan but also on artists overseas, helping establish the mountain as a symbol of Japanese culture.
It was a mountain that Japanese artists kept depicting.
Components
World Heritage Criteria
Every World Heritage Site is recognized according to specific criteria that explain why it has outstanding value. Here, we look at the criteria under which Mount Fuji is recognized.
A tradition of mountain worship
Evidence of a tradition that has regarded Mount Fuji as a sacred mountain since ancient times
Mount Fuji has long been revered as a sacred mountain inhabited by gods and Buddhas. Unique traditions of Fuji worship developed around pilgrimages to the summit and visits to sacred places at the foot of the mountain. These traditions continue to the present day.
A source of artistic inspiration
A mountain whose iconic form influenced art around the world
Mount Fuji has been a subject of literature and painting since ancient times. In particular, ukiyo-e prints by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige spread images of the mountain around the world and had a major influence on Western art from the 19th century onward.
