Mt Kobushi

Mt Kobushi (Japanese: 甲武信ヶ岳) is a hyakumeizan* and Yamanashi hyakumeizan**, a broad and quietly powerful mountain that rewards those willing to make the long approach into its deep forests and high ridges. It sits at the meeting point of Yamanashi, Nagano and Saitama, and is remote, wooded and expansive.

 

The hike begins near the campsite at Nishizawa gorge, which has been carved by years of rushing water and is well worth a visit. Once you leave the gorge behind, the trail rises steadily through dense forest and along occasionally narrow ridges before reaching the high ridge line that forms Kobushi’s broad upper slopes. Near the summit stands the mountain hut, a simple and welcoming shelter used by many hikers because Kobushi is a long, demanding climb. The hut marks the transition from the deep forest to the more open upper terrain, where the trees thin and the views begin to open. In late spring and early summer, the mountain is decorated by rhododendrons that line the trail and give the mountain a brief but spectacular burst of colour.

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The summit itself is wide and gentle, offering expansive views over the surrounding ranges. On clear days you can see deep into the Okuchichibu mountains, across Yamanashi’s ridges, and toward the distant silhouettes of the Southern Alps and Mt Fuji (富士山).  Mt Kobushi may not have the dramatic rock faces of the higher Alps, but its long approach, deep gorge, seasonal rhododendrons, and broad summit views make it one of Yamanashi’s most mountains.

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* 100 famous mountains of Japan

** 100 famous mountains of Yamanashi

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