Aokigahara Jukai (Aokigahara Forest)

Overview

A primeval forest centered around Japanese hemlock and cypress, formed over approximately 1,200 years on top of the lava flows from the Mount Fuji Jōkan Great Eruption in 864 CE (Jōkan 6). It covers an area of about 30 square kilometers at an altitude of 920 to 1,300 meters. Beneath the forest lie numerous lava caves, such as Fugaku Fūketsu (Fugaku Wind Cave), Narusawa Hyōketsu (Narusawa Ice Cave), and Saiko Kōmotsuhō (Saiko Bat Cave), all of which are mystical spaces where icicles can be seen year-round at temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius. While there is a popular myth that 'compasses do not work' here, in reality, the deviation is only about 1 to 2 degrees. It is a component asset of the 'Mount Fuji' World Heritage site.

Highlights

• ・Primeval lava forest from the Mount Fuji Jōkan Great Eruption
• ・Lava caves of Fugaku Wind Cave and Narusawa Ice Cave
• ・The truth behind the compass myths
• ・Component asset of the Mount Fuji World Heritage site