Mt Asama
(Mt Maekake)

Mt Asama (Japanese: 浅間山) is one of Japan’s most powerful and unpredictable volcanoes, a hyakumeizan* whose history is written in ash, lava and sudden eruptions. Its crater and true summit have long been off‑limits due to the danger of poisonous volcanic gases, and even today hikers are only allowed to climb as far as Mt Maekake (前掛山) when activity levels decline. Asama’s temperament is well known: the great 1783 eruption devastated villages across the region, and more recent eruptions in 2004 and 2009 sent ash clouds across Nagano and Gunma. Periodic increases in volcanic tremors still lead to temporary closures, and each time it happens I find myself waiting impatiently for the mountain to reopen. Be sure to check the latest updates on volcanic activity before climbing.

​

Despite its volatility, Asama is one of my favourite mountains in Nagano. I especially enjoy climbing it in winter, when the air is sharp and clear and the views stretch astonishingly far, including sometimes all the way to Mt Fuji. Winds can be powerful and winter climbing equipment is essential in this season. The main route begins in Komoro city, where hikers follow a long forest trail that climbs steadily through quiet woodland. Eventually the trees thin, and you emerge into the shadow of the volcano itself. The change is dramatic as vegetation fades, the ground turns black and broken, and the landscape becomes a tortured volcanic moonscape.

​

Approaching the summit of Mt Maekake, the scale of Asama becomes overwhelming. The ridges are raw and wind‑scoured, the slopes streaked with ash and pumice. Even without reaching the true summit, the sense of standing on the flank of one of Japan’s most explosive mountains is unforgettable. 

​

* 100 famous mountains of Japan

​

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