Mt. Rausu-dake (1,660 m) is the highest mountain of the Shiretoko volcanic mountain range in Shiretoko Peninsula. It is counted as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains. The view of the mountain covered with pure white snow in winter is magnificent. Many snow patches remain even in summer.

From the top of the mountain, you can command a panoramic view of the ocean including far-off Kunashiri Island. The two starting points of a trail up a mountain are located at Rausu Hot Spring in Rausu-cho and Iwaobetsu Hot Spring in Shari-cho. It takes 4 hours and 30 minutes from Rausu, and 6 hours from Shari.

In Mt. Rausu, you can observe a lot of alpine plants that come into bloom one after another on the slopes where snow thaws. At the peak blooming season in summer, the whole mountain becomes field of flowers. Here you will be moved by the great power of nature that overcome and survive severe winter.

Mt. Kaimondake (924 m) is located in Ibusuki City in the southernmost part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is counted as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains. From its fine conical shape, it is called Satsuma Fuji.

Mt. Kaimondake erupted in 874 and 885, by which the lava dome was formed in the crater and it became a two-staged complex volcano. The walking trail winds up to the mountain top.

At the top of the mountain is Mitake Shrine, the back shrine of Hirasaki Shrine at the foot. Mt. Kaimondake itself is the sacred body of this shrine. From the mountain top, you can command a magnificent view from the Kirishima mountain range in the north to Yakushima Island in the south including major sightseeing spots in the prefecture.

In the areas at the foot of the mountain, rape flowers bloom in spring, leaves of the evergreen forest cover the whole mountain in early summer and Chinese tallow trees (Sapium sebiferum) turn red in fall.

Subtropical and tropical plants can be seen in the botanical garden in Kaimon Submontane Natural Park located around the 2nd station of the mountain. At the foot of the mountain area many hot spring towns.

Mt. Kirishima is a generic name for the volcanoes in the border of Kirishima City in Kagoshima Prefecture and Ebino City and Kobayashi City in Miyazaki Prefecture. It is selected as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains. It is presumed to be a post-caldera volcano formed in the southern rim of Kakuto caldera basin.

Mt. Kirishima is composed of many peaks including the highest peak of Karakuni-dake (1,700 m), Takachiho-no-mine, Naka-dake, Ohata-yama, and Ohachi. There are a lot of crater lakes such as Onami-ike, Ohata-ike, and Rokukannon-ike. The mountain area is a part of Kirishima- Yaku National Park. The communities of Kyushu azalea can be seen in the highlands.

Mt. Kirishima is the land of Japanese mythology concerning its creation. “Amano Sakahoko,” the three teeth fork-shaped weapon is staked upside down at the top of Mt. Takachiho-no-mine, which is believed to be where the Heavenly Descendant Ninigi no Mikoto descended from Takamagahara Field (Heavenly Hill Field).

Mt. Akagi-yama, one of the Jomo Three Mountains and Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains, located in the center of Gunma Prefecture, is the generic name for mountains including Kurobi-san, Komagatake, Jizo-dake Choshichiro-yama, and Nabewari-yama.

It is a double-rimmed caldera volcano. There are three beautiful lakes near the mountaintop; Lake O-numa (an atrio lake), Ko-numa (a crater lake) and Kakuman-fuchi (a high moor).

The north wind known as “Karakkaze,” which is characteristic to the Kanto Plain in winter, is also called “Akagi Oroshi,” because it blows from Mt. Akagi-yama.

Mt. Akagi-yama has been worshipped by local people since the ancient times. It is a symbol of Gunma Prefecture.

Mt. Yakurai is an independent mountain in Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture. From its gentle and conical shape, it is called Kami Fuji. The mountain can be viewed from any part of the town and is loved by people as the symbol of the town. With an altitude of 553 meters, it is the 4th lowest mountain among the 100 Fine Mountains in the Tohoku region.

It was named so, because the statue of Yakushi Nyorai was placed at the top of the mountain when an epidemic prevailed during the Nara period (710-794). The mountain has two peaks; the North Peak and the South Peak. Of these, the North Peak is the summit. There are back shrines of Yakurai Shrine at the top of the both peaks.

The summit commands a wonderful panoramic view including the mountains of the Funagata Mountain Range such as Mt. Kurikoma and Mt. Funagata, the mountains from Mt. Kitaizumigatake to Mt. Izumigatake and the expanse of the Osaki Plain at the foot.

Pink flowers of dogtooth fawn lily (Erythronium japonicum), violet flowers, and plae yellow flowers of stachyurus (Stachyurus praecox) will add fine accents to the refreshing landscape.

Mt. Kamurodake located almost in the middle of the Ou Mountain Range and at the southern end of Kurikoma Quasi-National Park is a beautiful granite mountain, which is 1,262 m above sea level. It is also called Mt. Kokaburayama. From its magnificent ridge line running north to south in the border of Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures, it is counted as one of the 100 Fine Mountains in the Tohoku region.

Mt. Kamurodake provides climbers with fascinating climbing routes that include the precipitous cliff on the eastern side. Being called “Little Tanigawadake,” its steep appearance challenges climbers to get to the summit.

As the highest mountain in the outer rim of Onikobe Caldera, its summit commands a wonderful panoramic view including Mt. Kamuroyama, the main peak of the Kamuro Mountain Range, in the west and Mt. Chokai and Mt. Kurikoma in the east. Climbers will forget all the fatigue felt on the way.

Mt. Kamurodake can give the climbers double pleasures; fascinating climbing and wonderful view.

Mt. Poroshiri (2,052 m) is in Biratori Town in southern Hokkaido. It is a part of Hidaka-Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park and is counted as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains. As is named “Poroshiri,” meaning “a huge mountain” in the Ainu language, it is the highest mountain in the Hidaka Mountain Range, which is called “the spine of Hokkaido.” The mountain was formed by the elevation of the seabed about 1,300 years ago and long-period erosion by rain, snow and wind has created its rugged peaks. The top of the mountain commands a panoramic view of Hidaka mountains, which are overlapping with one another and continue far and wide.

The mountain is the treasure trove of flora and fauna including many species of alpine plants that come into bloom and form a field of flowers in July, Japanese pikas and black woodpeckers.

On the side of the mountain are three cirques named Nanatsunuma Cirque, Kita Cirque and Higashi Cirque, which are amphitheatre-like valleys, or valley heads, formed at the head of a glacier by erosion. The largest Nanatsunuma Cirque has seven ponds, which can be seen only in the snow melting season.

Mt. Rishiri (1,721 m) stands at the center of Rishiri Island to the west of Wakkanai City in Hokkaido. Its name “Rishiri” comes from an Ainu word “ri-sir,” meaning “an island with a lofty mountain.” Being called “Rishiri Fuji” from its beautiful conic shape, it is counted as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Mountains.

A large part of Rishiri Island is occupied by Mt. Rishiri with its gentle slopes expanding in both Rishiri Town and Rishirifuji Town. As its base reaches the sea, this mountain is “the tallest” mountain in Japan in that the distance between the base (0 meter above sea level) and the top of a mountain is the greatest. The appearance of “the northernmost Mt. Fuji” is brilliant when viewed from the coast in Wakkanai.

Mt. Rishiri is also famous as a place where alpine plants grow. Many tourists, who long for the sight of alpine flowers, visit this isolated island during the blooming season. The summit commands a 360-degree panoramic view including Rebun Island and even Sakhalin on a fine day. As the climbing trails are relatively gentle, it’s not a very big challenge for beginners.