Why Were Women Banned From Climbing Mount Fuji? – The 1872 Rule

The Ultimate Japanese Symbol

Today, Mount Fuji is the ultimate, universally loved symbol of Japan. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world—men, women, and children—hike up the volcanic trails to watch the breathtaking sunrise from the 3,776-meter summit. However, if you travel back in time just over 150 years ago, the demographic of those climbers would look completely different. For centuries, half of the human population was strictly forbidden from stepping foot on the sacred upper slopes of the mountain. Until 1872, Mount Fuji had a strict “No Women Allowed” policy!

The “Nyonin Kinsei” Taboo

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This harsh rule, known as “Nyonin Kinsei” (Women Forbidden), was deeply rooted in ancient Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. The mountain was considered a highly sacred training ground for male monks. In the religious context of the time, women were considered “ritually impure” due to menstruation and childbirth. Furthermore, local folklore claimed that the deity of Mount Fuji was a beautiful but highly jealous goddess named Konohanasakuya-hime. It was believed that if another woman dared to climb the mountain, the goddess would fly into a jealous rage and cause a violent volcanic eruption! Because of this, women were stopped at the 2nd station at the base of the mountain.

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The Meiji Revolution

It wasn’t until the Meiji Restoration, when Japan rapidly modernized and opened its doors to the West, that this discriminatory rule was finally abolished. In 1872 (Meiji 5), the Japanese government officially lifted the ban, declaring that women were free to climb and worship at any sacred mountain in the country. A British diplomat’s wife, Lady Fanny Parkes, actually became the first non-Japanese woman to successfully reach the summit in 1867, boldly challenging the gender barrier just before it fell. Today, thankfully, anyone can enjoy the majestic beauty of Japan’s highest peak!