Mt Kinpoku &
Mt Myoken

Mt Kinpoku (Japanese: 金北山) and Mt Myōken (妙見山) form the central spine of Sado Island’s highlands, two peaks linked by long, open ridges that offer some of the island’s most expansive views. Kinpoku is broad and grassy and Myōken is sharper and more wooded, but they are often climbed together, sometimes as part of a traverse across the Sado highlands.

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Mt Kinpoku is a sanbyakumeizan* that is the highest peak on Sado. Its summit stands above rolling ridges that open toward both the Kuninaka Plain and the outer coastline. The most famous route is the Donden Highland to Hakuundai traverse, which crosses Kinpoku along a 13.6‑kilometre ridge walk with gentle ups and downs and constant views of sea and flowers. Unfortunately due to time constraints I was only able to do part of the ridge line walk, taking in the western side of the traverse.

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Mt Myōken lies just south of Kinpoku. I ascended using the popular loop that begins at Hakuundai, climbs Myōken, and continues toward Kinpoku before returning. The climb to Myōken is steeper than Kinpoku’s broad slopes, but the ridge is well‑defined, and the views open early toward the island’s interior and the sea.

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Located overlooking the Sea of Japan, this end of the ridge line is the location of multiple defence installations. They are not especially beautiful and care should be taken not to enter restricted areas.

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* 300 famous mountains of Japan

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(All information here is based on personal observations and experiences. Check official sources before planning or starting any hikes.)