It is a 40-minute hike up to the summit at 1,955 meters above sea level on the shortest course. Ignore this and keep to the main trail, which soon breaks out of the trees to reveal the first vistas of the summit plateau in front of you and the pyramidal peak of Jirōgyū to the right. Otherwise, aim to go between April and November. Anyway, you can either retrace your steps all the way back down to banbajima, or consider traversing down to Tsurugi-sawa and out to Murodo. There are absolutely no ladders or any vertical climbing whatsoever. Hiking Standing 1955m (6414 ft) at the deepest end of the valley, the famed Mt. Mount Tsurugi Hiking Explore-share.com helps you book your next Hiking trip in Mount Tsurugi. Choose the facility carefully! Level of difficulty: 3 out of 5 (elevation change 535m). Continue climbing for a couple of hundred meters through a narrow section of trail to reach a rock formation with a corrugated metal building housing a buddhist sanctuary. Jirogyu which you can see nearby from Mt. If you’re lucky and the cloud isn’t in, you’ll be rewarded with hands-down the best panoramic view of the Kita Alps – I should know because I’ve climbed them all. From major cities on the main island of Honshu, numerous express buses depart for Tokushima Station. Approx 1.45-2.15 hours classic Iya Valley winding drive from Miyoshi (Oboke station) through the town of Nagoro (scarecrow village) you will find the second tallest mountain in Shikoku, Mt Tsurugi. Mountain (climbing) weather forecasts for 3 elevations of Tsurugi Dake or Mt Tsurugi, Honshu, Japanese Archipelago, Japan. Tsurugi is the second highest mountain in western Japan and also the second highest on the island of Shikoku after Mt. As one of the "Top 100 Mountains in Japan", it is home to Shinto shrines, a Buddhist temple, and revered by its secretive Shugendo monks. The trail is easy to follow if you’ve got a torch. From the banbajima parking lot, head through the beautiful grass campground (fill up on water) to the start of the hike. Click here to download the most recently updated PDF file. We will stay at Hayatsuki mountain hut at night. You’ll soon reach a humongous tree with a circumference of at least 10 meters, and this is where the tough slog begins. Otherwise, follow my recommended loop below: This is the beginning of the loop hike. Mt. If you do decide to take public transport, you can take a bus from Awa Ikeda Station to Kubo, then transfer to another bus bound for Mi-no-Koshi and get off at the final bus stop near the lower chairlift station. Ichizuchi in Ehime Prefecture is a … Take a photo as it will prove handy as there are many different paths to choose from. Hakusan is also visible to the right of the aforementioned peaks. The region is home to Mount Tsurugi, the second tallest peak on Shikoku and one of Japan's top 100 mountains. Total Round-trip Distance: 9km (4-1/2 to 7 hours), Categories: Shikoku hikes (四国) Tags: Add new tag, hiking, Hyakumeizan (百名山), japan, Mt. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and is called "the most dangerous mountain" climbable. After hiking the wooden path for 5 minutes, you will arrive at the flat peak of Mt. Mount Tsurugi (Tokushima) Climbing Notes. Tsurugi. The building just to the left is an eco toilet facility and a welcome replacement over the foul-smelling concrete restroom that used to sit on the summit. How to Get There Shikoku's popular hike. Mount Tsurugi is a popular hiking destination and, despite its name which translates to Sword Mountain, far from a challenging climb. Tsurugi fights a fierce battle with Mt. and arrive at the chair lift station, 'Minokoshi', before 10 am. The mountain is an important center for practitioners of Shugendo, an esoteric Japanese religion that draws on both Shintoism and Buddhism with an emphasis on mountain worship. Keep climbing up towards the summit, breaking out of the tree line in about an hour from the hut. We visited this mountain outside of peak season, meaning there was no option for cable car. You can stay overnight at the hutte, or you can just have a meal. From Kami-ichi station, take a taxi bound for Banbajima (馬場島). For the latest information about this hike (including color photos and maps), please consider purchasing my guidebook to the Japan Alps. If camping here then bring plenty of water to sustain you and be warned that the toilets at the chair lift station have seen better days. You’ll see an attractive-looking peak jutting out just in front of you – that is Jirōgyū, your second target peak of the day. The trail drops and flattens out a bit before reaching two small ponds. Walk past a concrete water reservoir with rubber water pipes strung about and climb the crest of the hill to a larger shrine building on your left. After admiring the views return to to the junction. At 1,955 meters high, Mt. Those short of time should turn left and take the trail just next to the chair lift, which will take you to the summit in about 40 minutes. Our next choice requires no introduction, but we’re going to give you one anyway, it is, of … Apart from the chair lift and a couple of buildings/antenna on the summit, the peak is wonderful, with a splendid sub-alpine forest and plenty of breathtaking views. Mt. The mountain opens to climbers in April, but if hiking is not your cup of tea, a ride on a single-seat chairlift will whisk you to a spot just a 30-minute walk away from the summit. The gently sloping shape of the mountain's summit, which resembles the curvature of a traditional sword, is the origin of the name of the mountain which literally means “sword mountain” in Japanese. Copyright © Japan National Tourism Organization. A trail left leads to Katanakake-no-matsu (刀掛の松), a large pine tree that sits along the main path converging from the chair lift. Ignore the track to the right that bypasses the summit (unless you need water, as there’s a source on that track) and keep to the main ridge. Tateyama/Mt. The gently sloping shape of the mountain's summit, which resembles the curvature of a... Breathtaking vistas. From 2600m all the way to the top it’s a bit of a rock scramble, but you’ll do fine if the weather is good. One of the best part of Tsurugi is Raicho Zawa Onsen hotsprings after activities. The hike: Most people approach this hike from Murodo and Tsurugi-sawa, but I’m introducing this alternative route from the back side of the mountain. November 7th.Tsurugisan 剣山A clear, pink dawn as we set off for Tsurugisan (Mt.Tsurugi). Tsurugi is to rent a car, as public transport options are few. Speaking of doing hard things, Royce hiked up Mount Tsurugi! Winter is probably the best time for experienced mountaineers, since the lift won’t be running and the mountain hut will be closed. Finding various hiking routes and different views.The joy and peril of R. 438 and rubbish michi no eki. Or do the opposite – ascend via Tsurugi-sawa and descend to banbajima. This iconic peak in the heart of Tokushima is ranked among Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, and is popular for both short trips to the summit as well as longer, more undulating ridge hikes to neighboring mountains. There’re plenty of places to camp, or you can check into the hut. Take a pick from our selection of Hiking trips in Mount Tsurugi. Keep an eye out for wildflowers lining the path including purple monkshood flowers in late August. Approx 1.45-2.15 hours classic Iya Valley winding drive from Miyoshi (Oboke station) through the town of Nagoro (scarecrow village) you will find the second tallest mountain in Shikoku, Mt Tsurugi. Mt. Be the first to submit your climbing note! I was seriously struggling. This mountain is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. Make sure to look behind you, back down to the small parking lot and hut at banbajima! Tsurugi’s breath-taking natural surroundings. However a climb to the top is not so difficult when going by the "climber's lift" to a trail high in the mountains followed by a one hour walk to the very top. I am not really into hiking but I went there this autumn with my friends for the memories. If you take the chair lift then you’ll save 200 meters of vertical elevation gain and will be hiking with a lighter wallet. There you will find two pdf file downloads. Mount Tsurugi (剱岳, Tsurugi-dake) is located in the eastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Ignore the first junction you reach (this will be your descent path after climbing Jirōgyū so you can drop off extra stuff here if you have a heavy pack). Map: Click here and scroll down to part 3 (主な配布場所). It’s a 20-minute climb to the top depending on your speed, where there are spectacular views back towards Tsurugi and further afield to Miune and the rest of the main traverse route of the mountain range to the west. The summit towers directly in front of you, with the insanely jagged Hatsumine ridge line jutting off to the left. There are small metal signposts at every 200m vertical elevation gain, which make for good places for breaks. There are plenty of footholds and the rocks are easy to grab onto. Climb the concrete stairs under the shrine gate (and don’t forget to check out the temple just to the left in the grassy park for its collection of Buddhist statues). Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp. Day 3: Mt Tsurugi summit / Hayatsuki mountain hut. Mt. Level of difficulty: 5 out of 5 (elevation change ~2200m). There’s no water on the trail at all, so make sure you’ve brought plenty from the campground below. From Betsuzan Ridge, we will climb up Mt. Mt. Fuji, Yatsu-ga-take, the Chuo and Minami Alps all lie beyond, perfectly visible on a clear day. Take your pick and you can see it – Mt. Once in Tokushima, the easiest way to access Mt. Pass through the wooden Torii gate marked in yellow paint as 四国つるぎ山. Do not attempt this hike in rainy weather, as the rocks are incredibly slippery and poor visibility could result in a wrong turn. Gone are the days of the concrete paths and the restoration work has helped the greenery return to what was once a neglected mountain top. Shirouma is directly behind that. Drop down through the bamboo grass along the well-traveled path to descend to a junction. If you look up and a little to your left, then you can actually see the hut, but you’ve still got a few hundred vertical meters and about 1km of hiking in order to reach it. Tsurugi At 1,955m in height, Mt. It really is a sensational section of hiking – straight out of a Hayao Miyazaki movie! Tsurugi. under a blue, blue sky in warm sunshine. Feel free to climb up on the side trail to view the statues, or simply ignore and continue on the main trail to your left and ascend around the rock to reach a junction above. The hike: From the chair lift entrance, hike downhill for about 50 meters on Route 438 (don’t go through the tunnel) past a couple of restaurants to find a shrine gate on your right with a signpost for Tsurugi Tozanguchi (剣山登山口). Tsurugi is the second highest mountain in western Japan and also the... A spiritual pilgrimage site. Mt. This is where the crowds will increase 10-fold, as this peak has quite a following. If you are not satisfied climbing to the summit of Mt. Not many have heard of it because it is in the middle of nowhere and not the most accessible option, but it is worth the effort to visit this gem. There are a lot of sharp ridges such as Yatumine ridge,Genjiro ridge,Hayatsuki ridge,Tsurugi ridge,Komado ridge, Bessan ridge etc. Tsurugi from here. The hike is actually much easier (except for the huge elevation gain) and far less crowded. At 1954.7 meters heigh, the brochures displaying green valleys and stunning views The path is a lovely, relatively flat track that skirts under the side of Tsurugi before joining the main trail at the top of the chair lift. The second tallest mountain on Shikoku Island, Mount Tsurugi is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains and a center of Shugendo, a Japanese folk religion based on mountain worship. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at 2,999 m (9,839 ft). Mt. The next day, try to wake up early and get some hiking under your belt before the sun rises. You’ll climb via the shrine Torii path and finish on the trail just below. Click here to see the winter scenery. Kasa beyond. The trail instantly starts climbing up the steep Hayatsuki mountain ridge (早月尾根), but flattens out significantly after about 15 minutes. A limited express train takes only 15 minutes and costs only 100 yen more than the local train. The hut costs 6000 yen for a futon only, or 8000 with one meal. Take the narrow trail between the mountain hut and shrine office to reach the summit plateau, which is lined with wooden walkways to help protect the vegetation. If it’s early and the weather is good, then you can consider making the 3-hour, 800 vertical meter sprint for the summit, but it’s better to save it for the following day. Mount Tsurugi. Tsurugi is the second highest mountain in western Japan. The mountains are calling! Eventually you will reach Bessan Pass (Bessan Nokkoshi), where the Tsurugi-gozen-goya mountain hut stands. On the other side, Mt. He is three! The path to the right passes right by the shrine before reaching a water source that is among the 100 best water sources in Japan. Soon you’ll reach the 2800m marker, the final marker before the summit. Choose a trail that matches your experience level and visit o View Sight playlist_add Add to Trip Otherwise, there is seasonal microbus service from both Sadamitsu and Anabuki stations on the JR Tokushima line. Pass through the tunnel and follow the well-worn path as it switchbacks and runs mostly parallel to the lift. - See 76 traveler reviews, 129 candid photos, and great deals for Mima, Japan, at Tripadvisor. Take the right fork and climb the final few steps to the summit. From Minokoshi, climbers may also ride a chairlift to a higher point on the trail. Yes, we took the chairlift to the halfway point, but there was quite a bit of hike still and he climbed the whole thing by himself. You may hear the echoing of a conch shell being blown by a practitioner. All Rights Reserved. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Mount Tsurugi (Tokushima), as well as the logistics of climbing to the summit. This blog post was written back in 2008. The trail traverses along the side of the mountain before reaching Otsurugi shrine (大剣神社) at the base of its namesake rock formation. Categories: Archive Tags: hiking, Hyakumeizan (百名山), japan, Kita Alps hikes (北アルプス), Mt. Tsurugi has lifts that take visitors to Nishijima Station midway up the mountain at 1,750 meters above sea level in 15 minutes. Tsurugi Hiking Tour (Mima City edition) Enjoy the fresh greenery and crimson foliage during their seasons in Mt. For complete trail descriptions and more details about hiking the mountain, check out the main Mt Tsurugi Page. The trail turns east and traverses around the back side of the mountain towards the summit. The tour takes you from either Kyoto or Osaka into the heart of old picturesque Japan, where you can spend a couple of days immersed in its traditional lifestyle. Tsurugi alone, you can continue along the ridge trails out to neighboring peaks including Jirogyu, Miune, and Tenguzuka. Tsurugi is one of Japan’s hidden gems. There’s no free drinking water, and you’re only choice is to buty bottled water from the hut staff. Tsurugi Comments: 12 Comments. There are a couple of flattened clearings among the bamboo grass which double as campsites. Snowy trail to the Tsurugi . Compare and book a certified guide for your trip on Explore-Share.com: 1500+ guides, 70+ countries and more than 8000 different programs to choose from. Hiking time: 6-10 hours. There are two different options. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. After enjoying the views retrace your steps back to the second junction and take the track to your left marked in Japanese for Mi-no-koshi (見の越へ 2770). It’s possible to go a little earlier or later in the season if you’ve got an ice axe, crampons, and ropes (plus the experience to use them). Tsurugi, which translates to sword mountain, is about 1,955 meters high (6,414 feet). The hike: From the chair lift entrance, hike downhill for about 50 meters on Route 438 (don’t go through the tunnel) past a couple of restaurants to find a shrine gate on your right with a signpost for Tsurugi Tozanguchi (剣山登山口). Mt. Tarogyu”, and Mt. BY CAR: If you don't want to hike over from Mount Tsurugi (剱岳), then just drive to Tateyama Station on the Toyama Chihō Railway (富山地方鉄道). Hitching from banbajima is incredibly easy, as lots of daytrippers come to enjoy the scenery without climbing the peaks. Yari as the most sought-after peak in the Kita Alps. It’s actually not that bad to maneuver through, as the switchbacks make it relatively easy. Climb a short distance and ignore the path on your left (which leads to a longer loop trail for Shugendō practitioners) and keep to the main track. Overview Turugi-dake (Mt.Tsurugi) is a peak located in the northwest of Northern Japan Alps, and one of the typical climbing areas of Japan. Continue on the undulating track to reach the bottom of the pass and start of the steep climb to the summit. Tsurugi-dake route map (1:50,000 hiking map, part of the Yama-to-kogen Chizu series published by Shobunsha, available in bookstores and from Amazon Japan) Tateyama live web cam (updated hourly from 6 am to 6 pm) Once there you will encounter a shrine and mountain huts, and if you are lucky enough to be visiting on a clear day, views open out to the Pacific Ocean, Seto Inland Sea and as far away as the Kii Peninsula on the main island of Honshu. There are a couple of shrines here, so pray for a safe journey. Stick to the main path to ascend past the campsites to reach the a big junction near the top of the chairlift. Hayatsuki ridge Hatsumine ridge line jutting off to the Japan Alps benches on your right, and.... Junction near the top of the pass and start of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains map of trails! 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With # visitjapanjp loop hike right of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and you ’ ve a... 3 out mount tsurugi hike the tree line in about an hour from the banbajima lot... Which connects with the main trail coming from Tsurugi-sawa just have a.! Hiking but i went there this autumn with my friends for the information.