Mount Takatsuma

at straddles the border between Nagano and Niigata prefectures, in the northwest of the city of Nagano and southwest of the city of Myōkō (Niigata Prefecture), and is also the boundary between the Kanto and Chubu regional offices of the Japanese forest agency.高妻山. (Mount Takatsuma

accessed Sept 24 2022

The mountain forms part of the Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park, a natural area protected by the Japanese government. Its summit dominates the Togakushi Mountains, and is the fourth highest mountain in the national park The mountain is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and one of the 100 most famous mountains in Nagano (信州百名山). Because of its pyramidal shape, the mountain is also referred to as Togakushi Fuji.高妻山　-戸隠連峰の最高峰・日本百名山-. (Mount Takatsuma: Highest in the Togakushi Mountains

accessed Sept 24 2022

The mountain, along with nearby Mount Togakushi and Mount Iizuna, is a sacred site for mountain-based religious sects such as Shugendo and Tendai, and the main trail includes 13 Buddhist statues, whose names remain such as ''Ichifudo'', ''Gojizo'', ''Shichi Kannon''.

Due to its location near the Sea of Japan, heavy snows are frequent in winter, and creeping pine, ''haimatsu'' (ハイマツ), can be found here despite the elevation below 2500m. Other trees and plants include Japanese rowan, rhododendron, Japanese alder, Japanese wood poppy, Japanese lady bells, and rockfoils.高妻山 (Mount Takatsuma

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan). Retrieved on 2022-09-24.

Watershed

Waters from the northeast side of the mountain flow to the Hyōsawa River, and then the Seki River, through the cities of Myoko and Joetsu in Niigata to the Sea of Japan. Waters from the south side of the mountain flow through the city of Nagano to the Susobana River, which meets the Sai River, and finally the Chikuma River, Japan's longest river system, which flows into the Sea of Japan at Niigata (city).

Hiking

The main climbing route is approximately 8–9 hours, and thus is considered one of the longest trails amount the 100 famous mountains in Japan. The trail begins at Togakushi Campground (1175m) at the base of Mount Togakushi. The climb rises to Ichifudo emergency shelter (一不動避難小屋) (1747m), and then follows the ridge to Mount Gojizo (五地蔵山) (1998m). From there, the path descends and rises again slightly to Hachi-kannon (八観音) (2040m), and then rises steeply to the summit (2353m). Because of its location at the back of the Togakushi Mountain Ridge, the climb is rated as requiring one night or more on the Nagano Trail Guide by Grade, and there are some difficult rocky sections with chains However, because there are no lodging facilities along the route, hikers start early, often before sunrise.

One alternative route is via the newer Miroku Ridge Trail (弥勒尾根新道), which also begins at Togakushi Campground, and climbs to Mount Gojizo. The Miroku Ridge Trail involves fewer dangerous rock sections, and is shorter than the main climbing trail, but with steeper sections. A second alternative, and longer, route is to first climb Mount Togakushi beginning from Togakushi Shrine, descend to the Ichifudo emergency shelter, and continue from there. However, this section involves more difficult and dangerous sections. There is no mountain trail from the Niigata Prefecture side of the mountain.

There is no ski resort on the mountain; however, experienced back country skiers do climb and then ski Mount Takatsuma in winter.高妻山バックカントリースキー！！(生還篇) (Mount Takatsuma Backcountry Ski Survival

Retrieved on 2022-09-24.

Gallery

See also

*100 Famous Japanese Mountains
*Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park
*Nagano Prefecture
*Niigata Prefecture
*Togakushi Shrine

References

{{100 Famous Japanese Mountains

Mountains of Nagano Prefecture
Mountains of Niigata Prefecture