Mt Nasu

Mt Nasu (Japanese: 那須岳) rises at the northern edge of Tochigi Prefecture, a hyakumeizan* volcanic massif whose rugged ridgelines, sulphur‑stained slopes and active geothermal vents give it one of the most dramatic mountain atmospheres in the northern Kanto region. The range is composed of several distinct peaks including Mt. Chausu (茶臼岳), Mt Asahi  (朝日岳) and Mt Sanbonyari (三本槍岳), each shaped by the eruptions and lava domes that built the Nasu volcano over thousands of years. The result is a landscape of sharp ridges, rocky scrambles and wide, wind‑swept plateaus.

​

The mountain’s location at the southern edge of the Nasu Highlands makes it accessible, although the full hike is by no means easy. From the upper ridges, the scenery opens in all directions with the Kanto plain stretching far to the south, the Nikko mountains rising to the west, and the long volcanic spine of Fukushima extending northward. 

​

The hiking course from the Nasu ropeway is the most common to this volcanic world, and was the course I selected. The ropeway deposits hikers high on the flank of Mt Chausu. From the upper station, the trail begins with a steep, rocky ascent to this active volcanic peak. Steam vents hiss from the slopes, and the summit offers a sweeping view over the entire Nasu range.

​

From Chausu, the trail continues along a beautiful ridge toward Mt Asahi, a quieter peak but with a narrow rocky section that requires caution. The path undulates across volcanic rock and alpine vegetation, offering a mix of airy ridge walking and short scrambles. Beyond Asahi, the trail stretches farther into the interior, reaching Mt Sanbonyari, a long, forest‑rimmed summit that marks the deeper, more remote side of the Nasu range and is widely accepted as the hyakumeizan point. It's a long, hard hike to Sanbonyari, but one I thoroughly enjoyed.

​

* 100 famous mountains of Japan

​

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