Mt Chausu (Utsukushigahara)

Mt Chausu or Chausuyama (Japanese: 茶臼山)  sits on Japan's Central Divide Trail and is located on the far eastern lip of the Utsukushigahara (美ヶ原) plateau. It should not be confused with many mountains of the same name, including one in the nearby Yatsugatake range. This is a quiet, windy corner of the famous table mountain where the grasslands loosen into bamboo thickets and hikers are few and far between. Even on bright summer weekends, you can walk here and hear only the rustle of sasa bamboo grass, the low hum of insects and the steady breath of the highland wind moving across the plateau.

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There are two main approaches. One is a short but tough climb from Sanshiro as a diversion that is part of a longer climb to the more popular parts of Utsukushigahara. You can also climb the gentle spine leading from the Tobira Pass to the east. The elevation of Mt Chausu exceeds 2,000 metres and the views are far grander than the mountain’s gentle profile suggests. Kirigamine (霧ヶ峰) and behind that the familiar Yatsugatake range (八ヶ岳) stretch away to the east, each peak distinct yet part of a single massif that seems to anchor the horizon. And to the north, Mt Asama (浅間山) and its surrounding mountains dominate the skyline.

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Chausuyama is not a dramatic summit, nor does it demand great effort or endurance. Its reward lies in its atmosphere including the silence, the gentle rustling of the bamboo grass and the openness of the plateau. I recommend it if you want to escape from the crowds at the more popular parts at the other end of the Utsukushigahara plateau.

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