How does the vegetation zone change vertically from the base to the summit of Mount Fuji?

Hello! Talking about the vegetation on Mount Fuji is such an interesting topic. I've visited the area several times and climbed once. The feeling of how the scenery and plants completely transform as the altitude increases is truly fascinating.

You can picture climbing Mount Fuji as a "storybook journey." Within just a few hours, you travel from temperate Honshu all the way to an environment resembling Siberia or even the Arctic. The changing vegetation is the most obvious guide on this journey.

Below, I'll outline this transition for you step-by-step from the base to the summit:

The Vertical Journey of Mount Fuji's Vegetation

Imagine we're standing at the foot of Mount Fuji, ready to begin our climb.

1. Foot Hills: Familiar Forest Parks (Below approximately 1000m)

• What does it feel like?
  Like a typical forested mountain or larger park you'd see elsewhere in Japan. It's warm, humid, and full of life.
• Main Plants:
  Primarily broad-leaved forests. You'll see familiar trees like beech and oak (Quercus species). They have broad leaves, are evergreen or deciduous, and the forest appears dense and lush.

2. Montane Zone: A Hint of the "North" (Approx. 1000m ~ 1600m)

• What does it feel like?
  Temperatures noticeably drop here. It feels like you've suddenly been transported to Japan's Tohoku region or Hokkaido.
• Main Plants:
  Broad-leaved trees become sparser, gradually replaced by a mix of hardier deciduous broad-leaved trees and conifers. For example, you'll see Japanese beech and Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula), alongside conifers like fir and spruce – the classic "Christmas tree" types – starting to pop up.

3. Subalpine Zone: Fuji's Classic "Sea of Trees" (Approx. 1600m ~ 2500m)

• What does it feel like?
  This is where most climbers start (e.g., the popular 5th Station). Winds pick up, temperatures are low, and the environment becomes harsh. The scenery here is iconic, reminiscent of the coniferous forests of Scandinavia or Siberia.
• Main Plants:
  Broad-leaved trees virtually disappear. Conifers dominate. Primarily two hardy fir species: Veitch's Fir (シラビソ Shirabiso, Abies veitchii) and Maries' Fir (オオシラビソ Ooshirabiso, Abies mariesii). To withstand strong winds and heavy snow, the trees grow shorter and more sparse the higher you go. At the forest edge, trees bent permanently by the wind form distinctive "flag trees," creating a striking visual image.

4. Alpine Zone: Life on the Edge (Above approx. 2500m)

• What does it feel like?
  The landscape changes dramatically here! Trees vanish completely. This invisible line is called the timberline or tree line. The ground is no longer soil but bare, reddish-black volcanic rock and scree. It feels like landing on the moon or entering the Arctic Circle.
• Main Plants:
  Only the toughest plants survive. You have to look very carefully to find them hiding in rock crevices:
  • Dwarf Shrubs: Like the ground-hugging Cowberry (*Grouseberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea)**, growing low to escape the biting winds.
  • Alpine Flowers: During the brief summer, resilient flowers (like Raillardella argentea) bloom vibrantly in rock crevices.
  • Lichens & Mosses: They cling like colorful "crusts" to the rocks.

5. Summit: Volcanic Desert (Above approx. 3500m)

• What does it feel like?
  A freezing, oxygen-poor, wind-scoured volcanic desert.
• Main Plants:
  Essentially barren. Occasional traces of the hardiest lichens clinging to rocks near the crater edge might be visible, but you'll see almost no plant life. This is the absolute limit for survival.

To Summarize

So, the entire transition looks like this:

Lush Broad-leaved Forest → Mixed Broadleaf-Conifer Forest → Rugged Conifer Forest → Low Shrubs & Mosses → Volcanic Rock Desert

This dramatic shift is primarily driven by temperature. Temperature drops roughly 0.6°C for every 100m gain in altitude. From base to summit, the temperature difference approaches 20°C. This huge variation creates a compressed ecological landscape, mirroring a journey from temperate zones to the icy poles.

Hope this explanation gives you a clear picture of Mount Fuji's diverse ecosystems!