It's not just the sunrise! The flora and fauna you can see on Mt. Fuji - Yoshida Trail
Mt. Fuji Diary No. 130 (Author: Yudai Miura, Active Ranger, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Management Office, Ministry of the Environment)
Hello!
This is Yudai Miura from the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Management Office.
Mt. Fuji has a lot of lava, and you sometimes hear people say, "You can't see any of the flora and fauna you see on other mountains!"
However, if you pay attention to the area around the trail, you'll be surprised to find it teeming with a variety of plants and animals.
So, this time, I'd like to introduce some of the creatures I found while patrolling the Yoshida Trail.
First up, here's a picture of a chestnut tiger butterfly fluttering around right at the start of the trail.
The chestnut tiger butterfly is known for its seasonal migration.
From autumn to winter, they apparently travel to Kyushu and Okinawa in search of warmer places, and even across the sea to Taiwan. I'm amazed by their resilience.
Also, the light blue (asagi) colored feathers (apparently this is what they call the slightly translucent, pale blue part of the feather¹!) are beautiful and absolutely lovely. The large size also makes them easy to spot, which is another plus.
▲Found it right near the trail entrance! Feeling energized, I started my climb.
After walking for a while and passing the 6th station, I encountered a peacock butterfly.
It is characterized by its beautiful peacock-like pattern and large eye-like markings. In Honshu, it mainly inhabits mountainous areas and is said to be a butterfly that prefers relatively cool places!
From a distance, it looks like a large animal! However, the underside of its wings is a single, rather plain dark brown color. Perhaps this contrast is what makes the pattern on the upper side look so beautiful.
▲It has a pattern that looks like it has four big eyes! It's so colorful and beautiful!
Continue to here!
This is a Campanula punctata. It has plump, pink flowers.
The way they bloom facing downwards is so charming, isn't it? Apparently, it's a popular flower for gardening, so perhaps some of you have even tried growing it?
This was the first time I'd seen this flower, but it has become one of my favorites because it evokes a sense of summer.
▲Found at the end of the trail! It looks like a wind chime or a paper lantern, perfect for summer!
Next, I encountered the Fuji Thistle. It's named this way because it's commonly observed in the area around Mt. Fuji.
As you may know, Mt. Fuji is covered in scoria, a type of volcanic sand and gravel, making it a very harsh environment for plant growth. Plants that can quickly establish themselves in such an environment are called "pioneer plants." One of the attractions of Mt. Fuji is the opportunity to observe many of these pioneer plants.
The flowers weren't fully in bloom when I visited, but even in this state, the spiky leaves make a strong statement!
▲Fuji Thistle - When in full bloom, it looks even more dynamic!
You can find more detailed information about the Fuji thistle here, so please take a look!
As we continued our climb and reached just before the 7th station, the vibrant purple clematis came into view. This plant, too, grows in the sandy and gravelly areas at high altitudes, making it truly unique to Mt. Fuji.
It is said that this plant got its name because its roots resemble cotton (although there are other theories).
Bumblebees were also visiting the area around the beautiful purple flowers!
▲Bumblebees are on the vibrant purple flowers!
As you can see, there are still so many more plants and animals to be found on Mt. Fuji that we can't possibly introduce them all here.
While being mindful not to disturb other hikers, try observing the nature of Mt. Fuji. You're sure to make some new discoveries.
Furthermore, the flowers that bravely bloom in harsh environments and the beautiful insects can soothe your weary mind after a hike, but please keep their presence in your memory and refrain from catching or uprooting them.
Let's all work together to preserve this beautiful nature!
1. Since "翅" is not a commonly used kanji, I used the character "羽".