Mt Ishizuchi

Mt Ishizuchi (Japanese: 石鎚山) rises sharply on the border of Ehime and Kōchi as the highest peak in western Japan, a mountain long revered for its steep rocky ridges, sacred history and commanding presence. It's a hyakumeizan* that forms the centerpiece of a rugged 50‑kilometre range with more than twenty peaks over 1,500 metres. Its summit is known as the “stone hammer” for its jagged profile and is a dramatic crest of hard rock shaped by tectonic compression, giving the mountain a bold, angular character.

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Ishizuchi has long been a centre of mountain worship, and is the heart of the Ishizuchi Quasi‑National Park established in 1955. The mountain’s steep ridges, shrines and pilgrimage traditions remain deeply woven into the cultural landscape of western Japan.

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I used the hiking course from Tsuchigoya, which lies along the western Ishizuchi range, a highland zone that connects various peaks. From this area, the trail climbs steadily through cool, humid forest that is typical of the range’s high‑precipitation climate. The course then emerges onto rocky ridges that reveal Ishizuchi’s dramatic summit block. The ascent is not technical, but it does involve long stretches of steep trail, exposed rock and airy viewpoints that gradually build toward the final crest. Fortunately the route to the summit on the stone hammer is not as dangerous as it looks at first glance. From the top, the views across Shikoku's inland are immense. The summit’s shrines and the presence of pilgrims blends spiritual history with the mountain’s rocky crown.

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* 100 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.)