This video introduces Japan’s mountains, from Hokkaido in the north to Kagoshima in the south.
Although Japan is home to the “100 Famous Mountains of Japan,” not all of them offer breathtaking views.
So it’s a good idea to watch the video before you go.
Mt. Moiwa, Hokkaido (An easy day hike via ropeway)
Mt. Moiwa, Hokkaido (An easy day hike via ropeway)
I was supposed to hike Mt. Moiwa in Sapporo.
However, due to limited time, I took the ropeway instead.
There were no climbers at the summit, just a throng of tourists.
Mount Iwate and Mount Hayachine
Conquering Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains in Iwate Prefecture (Mount Iwate and Mount Hayachine)
July 17, 2022: Summited Mount Hayachine
July 16, 2022: Summited Mount Iwate
Mount Iwate’s crater (summit) may be inaccessible due to volcanic activity.
Check the eruption alert level beforehand.
Miyagi Prefecture’s Zao-Mount Kurikoma Geopark
Trail running in Miyagi Prefecture’s Zao-Mount Kurikoma Geopark
Mount Kurikoma Foothills Geopark
Mount Kurikoma’s summit is spacious, so many climbers stop for lunch.
Zao Geopark (Mount Eboshi)
You can traverse (traverse) Mount Zao and Mount Fubo.
This is where the Zao Trail Run was once held.
Japan’s lowest mountain, Mt. Hiyori
Mt. Adatara and Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
What is the Witch’s Eye in Fukushima Prefecture?
Mt. Adatara and Mt. Aizu-Komagatake (Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains)
To get to Mt. Aizu-Bandai, take the train from Koriyama Station to Bandai (Inawashiro) Station.
I walked from the station to the trailhead.
It’s a good idea to see the explosive crater of Mt. Aizu-Bandai before climbing to the summit.
Seeing the Witch’s Eye at Jododaira! Mt. Issaikyo and Mt. Azuma-Kofuji
The Witch’s Eye on Mt. Issaikyo is easy to get to. If you’re driving, you can use the parking lot near the summit.
This Witch’s Eye made the news (and the newspapers) because a bear was spotted swimming there.
I headed to Mt. Aizu-Komagatake the night before,
spending the night in my car at a roadside station. Be careful, the parking lot fills up at dawn.
The day after climbing Aizu-Komagatake, we climbed Hiuchigatake.
Hiuchigatake is the highest peak in Fukushima Prefecture.
Oze’s parking lot is very spacious and perfect for sleeping in the car.
After descending, we had katsu curry at a restaurant. There’s a bus stop nearby, so bus transportation is easy.
Aizu-Komagatake and Hiuchigatake should be climbed together in a two-day, one-night trip.
Conquering two of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains (including Fukushima Prefecture’s highest peak)
Mount Yamizo, and Tochigi Prefecture’s is Mount Nikko Shirane
Ibaraki Prefecture’s highest peak is Mount Yamizo, and Tochigi Prefecture’s is Mount Nikko Shirane.
Trail running on Mount Tsukuba (Mount Nantai and Mount Nyotai)
Gunma (along with Mt. Tanigawa, Naeba, and Akagi)
The highest peak in Gunma Prefecture is Mount Nikko Shirane (along with Mount Tanigawa, Mount Naeba, and Mount Akagi)
Take the Tanigawadake Mountain Opening Train (express train, reserved seat) to Toge Station.
It’s easily accessible by ropeway.
To get to Mt. Naeba, we rented a car the night before and headed to the parking lot.
If we took a taxi, we would have to pay for a round trip fare, but with a rental car we only had to rent it once.
Mt. Naeba was full of alpine plants (flowers). It’s one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains that can be reached in a day.
The vending machine at the top of the mountain only sold tickets for 500 yen (lol).
Mount Akagi is also known as Mount Kurohino. It is an easy mountain to climb even for beginners.
If possible, I would like to climb Mount Haruna as well.
Climbing Mount Kobushigatake and Mount Sanpo,
Climbing Mount Kobushigatake, one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan, and Mount Sanpo,
the highest peak in the prefecture, in Saitama Prefecture
Mount Buko is an easy climb, but lacks scenery. It still makes a good training ground for beginners.
千葉県、房総半島トレイルランと鋸山のロープウェイ
I took the ropeway up Mount Nokogiri in Chiba Prefecture.
Mount Kumotori, Mount Takao, and Mount Jinba in Tokyo
We hiked Mount Takao, staying overnight at Takao Base the night before.
Mount Takao is not crowded in the early morning.
Most people turn back at the summit, so there are fewer climbers going up to Mount Jimba.
Mt. Mihara on Izu Oshima Island and Mt. Tenjo on Kozushima
There are no buses from Oshima to Miharayama on weekdays.
One thing to be aware of is that if you go to Oshima or Kozushima, there is a chance that you may not be able to return home.
Boats will not set sail if the waves are rough.
So even if you come to the island, you may not be able to return home.
Furthermore, there are many places on Oshima and Kozushima where you cannot get smartphone reception.
The Tanbayama Village parking lot at Mount Kumotori.
Mount Kumotori is one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains and is also the highest peak in Tokyo.
The day before climbing Mount Kumotori, I climbed Mount Daibosatsu.
Climbing both at the same time saves time and transportation costs.
When I arrived at Tanbayama Village’s village-run parking lot at 4:40pm, about 20% of the spaces were empty.
It was full by 5:30pm, and many cars were parking in places other than designated parking lots.
Even on weekdays, if you don’t arrive by 5pm the parking lot will be full.
Mt. Tono, Mt. Tanzawa, and Mt. Hirugatake in Kanagawa
To get to Tonodake, take a bus from Shibusawa Station to the Okura trailhead.
There are two buses per hour, so it’s okay if you miss one.
I’ve climbed the Tanzawa Mountains (Tonodake, Nabewariyama, Oyama, and Hirugatake),
but I’ve never had my blood sucked by a leech.
But it’s still a good idea to carry some salt with you to be on the safe side.
There is also a course that goes from Mt. Nabewari to Mt. Tonodake.
Since I had already climbed Mt. Tonodake, I decided to go around Mt. Nabewari.
Nabeyaki udon is served at the summit of Mt. Nabewari.
Mount Tanzawa, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains.
You can also head to Mount Hirugatake via Mount Tanzawa from the Okura bus stop.
It’s not possible to do a day trip by bus, so you’ll need to travel by car (leaving at night or early in the morning).
The Mt. Oyama Mountain Climbing Marathon is held in the Tanzawa Mountains.
Mount Fuji (Mount Hoei) in Yamanashi Prefecture.
An entrance fee will be required from 2025.
A chef climbing Mount Fuji?
There is a ropeway on Mount Minobu.
There are few climbers on Mount Koza, so it is easy to get lost.
Be careful of train and bus times when visiting Mt. Kushigatake.
Mt. Mizugaki has huge, strangely shaped rocks, so it’s a good idea to traverse it and Mt. Kinpu.
Mt. Kinpu also has a huge rock at its summit.
In Hirogawara, Parking Lot No. 2 is closest to the bus stop.
However, if you plan to stay overnight in your car, Parking Lot No. 3 is a better choice.
I hiked Mt. Kitadake and Mt. Ainodake, camping overnight. The tent and sleeping bag were heavy.
I climbed Mt. Aino from Kitadake Sanso wearing trail running clothes.