
Every year at the end of December, something magical happens to Japan’s tallest mountain. As the sun descends in the sky bringing a close to another day, it meets with the summit of Mount Fuji for a few brief moments, making it appear as if the peak is topped with a glistening diamond. Thousands of people flock to vantage points around the area for a chance to see this special phenomenon, dubbed “Diamond Fuji.”
The perfect alignment of the sun over Mount Fuji only happens during the days around the winter solstice in December, making Diamond Fuji an especially rare spectacle. Thanks to the internet, we don’t even have to brave the biting chill of a Japanese winter to see this special sight. Check out just a few photos posted on Twitter this past December:
遅くなってしまいましたが、2014年最後の撮り納め。
— とにかく凄い富士山撮る人🗻橋向 真 (@MakotoHashimuki) December 31, 2014
素晴らしい条件の中、見事なWダイヤモンド富士を撮影出来ました(^-^)♪
来年も今まで以上に頑張ります!
#写真好きな人と繋がりたい #富士山 #2014年締め括り pic.twitter.com/wIIeycz8U8
お見事!2014年最後の日の出をダイヤモンド富士で締めくくりました(^^) pic.twitter.com/72APk4oePY
— 富士山情報 (@fujitomo_info) December 30, 2014
https://twitter.com/charomizu/status/550428483927568384初日の出!!
— 夜王ソムリエ (@monblan_mokyu2) December 31, 2014
富士山頂上から上る「ダイヤモンド富士」、感動の瞬間でした!
2015年も良い年になりますように…^ ^ pic.twitter.com/kHkFcFzukH
お見事!2014年最後の日の出をダイヤモンド富士で締めくくりました(^^) pic.twitter.com/72APk4oePY
— 富士山情報 (@fujitomo_info) December 30, 2014
ダイアモンド富士撮影できるかな? pic.twitter.com/JVp8BI0Ngy
— えいぴあ@遥 瑞希推し (@appier0207) January 2, 2015
For an even better view of Diamond Fuji, check out the following timelapse video:
And if you’ve ever wanted to see this beautiful natural sight yourself, be sure to check out the following video created by Japanese vlogger Japanagos. Here, you’ll see a Diamond Fuji sunrise and learn exactly where to go to see it for yourself.
If you’re heading to Japan for the lights and sounds of the big cities, you might want to consider taking a break from the organized chaos and head to the hills. Japan’s countryside is filled with absolutely breathtaking natural wonders, and Diamond Fuji is just one of the many we highly recommend!
Source: The Huffington Post Japan
Featured image: Twitter (Hashimuki)

Beautiful Mt Fuji photo looks like a buggy video game scene
Nude photos of Mt. Fuji circulate online as powerful typhoon removes snow from the peak【Photos】
Japanese pilot flies close to Mt Fuji, asks passengers to look out the window
Mt. Fuji gets its first snow of the season, almost a month earlier than it did last year【Photos】
“Floating” Mt Fuji and shrine gates capture the hidden beauty of Japan【Photos】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know
How to take your home ramen to the next level by making your own chashu pork in a frying pan
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Animal Crossing plushie pouch towels and cozy socks show up at Family Mart convenience stores
There’s a new world’s largest anime robot statue, and it’s not in Japan【Photos】
Does this video about an abandoned dog leave you wiping your eyes or shaking your fist?
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success
Foreign man arrested for walking on Shinkansen tracks, claims he was on the run from yakuza
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Thirty-Six [ ________ ] of Mt. Fuji Project has a view of conserving the iconic mountain
Mount Fuji has become so congested with tourists that it has reached breaking point
Japan’s new ukiyo-e woodblock print passports are beautiful, now in travelers’ hands【Photos】
What’s going on in this crazy beautiful picture of Mt. Fuji?
Diamond Route Japan series shows off all the beautiful reasons to travel outside of Tokyo【Videos】
36 Views of The Mount Fuji Bar【Photos】
Beautiful Mt. Fuji sunrise or literal end of the world? Video looks like it could be either one
Barricades placed on Mt. Fuji as mountain officially closes because of coronavirus【Video】
“Miraculous” cloud over Mt Fuji stuns the Internet
Mt. Fuji gets covered with beautiful umbrella cloud that also has some people seeing a fried egg
Mt Fuji photo tricks the eye by looking like a moody ink painting
Pre-dawn photo of Mt. Fuji looks almost too beautiful to be real
Photos of “everyday life” in the town next to Mt. Fuji look like a beautiful fantasy world