Mt Tsurugi

Mt Tsurugi (Japanese: 剣山), not to be confused with a mountain of the same name in the North Alps, rises above the deep folds of the Iya Valley as one of Shikoku’s most spacious peaks. Its broad grassy dome and gentle ridges give it an atmosphere very different from the sharper summits of Japan’s main ranges. It is the second‑highest mountain on Shikoku and a hyakumeizan*, yet its topography is soft and open with long slopes covered in bamboo grass, rounded ridgelines and a summit marked by shrines and wooden walkways that speak to its long history as a sacred place and a centre for traditional mountain worship. Because the mountain stands at the heart of Shikoku’s interior highlands, its horizons stretch in every direction, revealing the deep valleys of Tokushima, the rounded crest of Mt Jirōgyū (次郎牛山) and distant ranges fading into Ehime and Kōchi.

​

The hike begins at Minokoshi, where a chairlift carries visitors high onto the mountain’s flank. Of course I chose not to use the chairlift and walk up the relatively easy course. From the top station, the trail climbs steadily through open bamboo grass, following a gentle ridge toward the summit. It is a short but scenic ascent where the forest quickly gives way to wide slopes. For hikers seeking a longer journey, the traverse toward Mt. Jirōgyū offers one of Shikoku’s finest ridge walks, an undulating path across open highlands with constant views and a quiet atmosphere.

​

* 100 famous mountains of Japan

​

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