is a
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher ...
on the border of
Saijō and
Kumakōgen, in
Ehime,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...
. This mountain is one of the
100 famous mountains in Japan. It is the highest mountain in Western Japan and the island of
Shikoku
is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...
.
Outline
Mount Ishizuchi is the highest mountain on the island of
Shikoku
is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...
and also the highest mountain west of
Mount Haku. It is known as 'the roof of Shikoku' and the sharp, rocky summit resembles a huge .
Mount Ishizuchi is an important object of worship in this region and one of the major centers of
Shugendō
is a highly syncretic religion, a body of ascetic practices that originated in the Nara Period of Japan having evolved during the 7th century from an amalgamation of beliefs, philosophies, doctrines and ritual systems drawn from local ...
, a sect of mixture of Shinto and Buddhism. At the top of the mountain there is a small shrine called the Ishizuchi Shrine. This mountain is also known as one of . There are several sets of leading up to the summit and this is the route many pilgrims opt to take, the longest set being 68m. However, it is possible to hike all the way to the peak along a trail which includes stairs and ramps with handrails.
The climbing season opens every year on July 1, and women are forbidden from climbing the mountain on this day.
Between mid-October and mid-November, people come from far and wide to view the
autumn colours.
The area around Mount Ishizuchi is a major part of
Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park.
Access
*
Sanchōjōju Station of
Ishizuchi Ropeway
*
Ishizuchi Tsuchigoya Bus Stop of
Iyotetsu Bus
Image:Ishizuchi1.jpg, Mount Ishizuchi from South
Image:Ishizuchi2.jpg, Top of Mount Ishizuchi
Image:Ishizuchi3.jpg, A view of the middle of the mountain
Image:Ishizuchi4.jpg, A stone wall of the mountain
Image:Mt. Ishizuchi from Joju Shrine.jpg, Mt. Ishizuchi from Joju
Image:Iron chains on Mt. Ishizuchi.jpg, People ascending via the iron chains
Footnotes
References
Guide to the Ishizuchi Mountains (Saijo City)the Geographical Survey Institute in Japan‘Yama to Shinko: Ishizuchisan’
External links
{{Authority control
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