The absence of snow on the summit of Fuji is the latest record for the formation of a snow cap in 130 years

Japan's highest peak, Mount Fuji, usually forms a snow cap in early October, but this year, it has not been observed, setting a new record for the formation of a snow cap since records began 130 years ago.

The snow cap on Mount Fuji usually begins to form on October 2, and last year snow was first spotted on the summit on October 5, AFP reported. However, this year, due to the warm weather, the snow cap appeared unusually late, and as of Monday (October 28), it was still not visible.

It was the latest snow cap to arrive on Mount Fuji since comparable data began in 1894, breaking the previous two records in 1955 and 2016, both of which occurred on Oct. 26, said Hiroshi Katsuda, a forecaster at the Kata Prefecture Meteorological Bureau.

Japan had its hottest summer on record this year. High summer temperatures persisted into September, hindering the arrival of cold air, Katsuda said, while climate change may also have played a role in snow formation.

At an altitude of more than 3,770 meters, Mount Fuji is a popular tourist destination in Japan, attracting more than 220,000 tourists to hike the mountain from July to September. This year, however, the number of visitors to climb the mountain has dropped after Japanese authorities introduced entrance fees and a daily cap on the number of visitors to combat overtourism.