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H O M E ------- T R A V E L ------- J A P A N ------- Mt. F U J I ------ BIRTH OF Mt. FUJI

Mt. Fuji's present shape was created over three generations of volcanic activities by the Ashitakayama/Ko-Mitake (Small Mitake), Ko-Fuji (Old Fuji) and Shin-Fuji (New Fuji) volcanoes. The Ko-Mitake volcano is believed to have become inactive over 100 thousand years ago. The Ko-Fuji volcano formed the base of the current Mt. Fuji and is believed to have been active between approximately 100 thousand and 10 thousand years ago. Activities by the Shin-Fuji volcano, which created the mountain's current shape, are said to have begun about 10 thousand years ago and erupted repeatedly for over 100 times during a period of about 10 thousand years between then and the Hoei Eruption in 1707. The period when Shin-Fuji became active coincides with the early Jomon Period, and it is believed that people inhabited the areas surrounding Mt. Fuji at that time. The Hoei Eruption of 1707 was the last eruption and is said to have been the largest of all eruptions in recorded history.