Mt. Daisen
Mt. Daisen, located in Daisen-Oki National Park, the third biggest National Park in Japan, is considered as an iconic hiking destination and also the highest mountain in the Chugoku area of Japan. The highest peak of Mt. Daisen is 1,729 meters (5,672 feet), which is now not allowed to enter because of the possible collapse after the earthquake in 2000. However, you can still climb up to the second highest peak of Mt. Daisen: Misen, reaching a height of 1,709 meters (5,606 feet).Mt. Daisen boasts the largest beech forest in Japan and high-quality ski resorts as well. At the peak of Mt. Misen, you will be able to overlook the nearby Sea of Japan and distant islands, plains, and coast. Mt. Daisen has always been a training spot for ascetic monks and believers, and it wasn’t open to the public until the late 19th century.
To look at Mt. Daisen from the west, you will find it quite similar to Japan’s highest mountain, Mt. Fuji. Nevertheless, Mt. Daisen fascinates much fewer visitors than Mt. Fuji with its no less beautiful landscapes. So you may have a better experience while hiking, climbing, and skiing here. According to research conducted by NHK News, Mt. Daisen is only less renowned than Mt. Fuji and Yarigatake Peak of the Alps in Japan.
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Hiking Paths on Mt. Daisen
Go Hiking in Mt. Daisen
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1. Summer Mountain Climbing course, which is easy enough for children, and it will take you about 5 hours to finish a roundtrip.
2. Utopia course can take you to a cottage, and it’s more friendly to pro hikers. It will take about 6 hours to complete a whole trip.
3. If interested in waterfalls, Daisendaki Waterfall hiking course is your best choice. Guided by this course, visitors will see a special double-layered waterfall.
Hiking Tips:
Make sure that you go to the Daisen Information Center before you start climbing or hiking for safety advice, maps, and weather information. English service is available and it also provides hiking equipment renting service.Guide service is also available in Mt. Daisen. A guide will point out regional plants, animals, tracks, and some of the area’s magnificent old trees. You may book a guide on the Mt. Daisen Tourism Guide website. The fees are around 20,000 JPY if you plan to climb up the summit.
More importantly, you should be aware of the permitted climbing time in Mt. Daisen, which is from the first Sunday in June to the early November. For your safety, you may need to register in the information center before and after the climbing.
Daisen Shrine and Summer Festival:
On the way climbing, you will come across Daisen Shrine. Built in the 8th century, Daisen Shrine is a highly important landmark for Tottori. The stone pavement that leads to the main building is the longest in Japan, which stretches for about 700 meters (765 yards). In the first weekend of June every year, priests from Daisen Shrine preside over the summer festival to pray for an accident-free mountain climbing season. At the same time, there will be around 2,000 believers holding torches marching in the mountain for honoring God.Ski Resort:
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Snowy Weather in Mt. Daisen
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