Why You NEED to Hike The 100 Famous Mountains Of Yamagata

Japan’s hidden treasure trove of outdoor adventure

The view from Arakura-yama towards the port village of Yura in Tsuruoka City. Photo by author.

A yamabushi’s role is simple: Lead others into nature. Part of that is showing you the beauty of nature in Japan, starting with my own backyard, Yamagata Prefecture.

Made of Mountains: Yamagata Prefecture

The stone stairway of Haguro-san during autumn. Photo by author.

Locals in Yamagata are a different breed.

Providing not only the most beautiful backdrop known to man, but also a source of sustenance for millennia, mountains have a say in almost every aspect of the lives of the people of Yamagata.

So much so, the word Yamagata literally means ‘mountain shape’. Or, as we like to say, ‘made of mountains’.

Why 100 Mountains?

The Torii (shrine gates) of Yudono-san Jinja in Tsuruoka City. Photo by author.

In 1964, mountaineer and author Fukada Kyuya published Hyakumeizan, One Hundred Mountains of Japan.