Nature
Mountains of Japan
From Mount Fuji (3,776 m) to the granite spires of the Northern Alps and the active cones of Kyushu, Japan's mountains are both landscape and sacred space. Listed by elevation.
Yamanashi, ShizuokaMount FujiFuji-sanJapan's highest mountain: an active volcano, a pilgrimage peak and the country's most painted landscape.3,776 mActive volcanoWorld HeritageYamanashiKita-dakeKita-dakeThe second-highest summit in Japan, crown of the Southern Alps and home of the Kitadakesō.3,193 mNagano, GifuOkuhotaka-dakeOkuhotaka-dakeHighest peak of the Northern Alps, above the Karasawa cirque and Kamikōchi.3,190 mNagano, GifuYari-ga-takeYari-ga-takeThe unmistakable rock spear at the centre of the Northern Alps.3,180 mNagano, GifuMount OntakeOntake-sanA sacred giant among Japan's volcanoes, marked by the 2014 eruption.3,067 mActive volcanoNagano, GifuNorikura-dakeNorikura-dakeA volcanic saddle above the clouds, reached by bus to 2,700 m.3,026 mActive volcanoToyamaTateyamaTateyamaOne of Japan's three holy mountains, above the high plateau of Murodō.3,015 mActive volcanoToyamaTsurugi-dakeTsurugi-dakeThe steep granite sword north of Tateyama, hardest of the 100 Famous Mountains.2,999 mNaganoKiso-komagatakeKiso-komagatakeThe highest peak of the Central Alps, above the ropeway cirque of Senjōjiki.2,956 mNagano, YamanashiYatsugatakeYatsugatakeA compact volcanic range of rocky peaks and dark forests near Tokyo.2,899 mActive volcanoIshikawa, GifuHakusanHakusanThe white holy mountain of Hokuriku, source of Japan's Hakusan faith.2,702 mActive volcanoNagano, GunmaMount AsamaAsama-yamaThe smoking volcano above Karuizawa, witness of the 1783 catastrophe.2,568 mActive volcanoTochigiMount NantaiNantai-sanThe sacred cone of Nikkō, rising from the shore of Lake Chūzenji.2,486 mActive volcanoHokkaidoAsahi-dakeAsahi-dakeThe roof of Hokkaido, a steaming volcano above Asahidake Onsen.2,291 mActive volcanoYamagata, AkitaMount ChōkaiChōkai-sanDewa Fuji: a sacred volcano rising straight from the Sea of Japan.2,236 mActive volcanoIwateMount IwateIwate-sanThe volcano of Morioka, lopsided Fuji of the old Nanbu domain.2,038 mActive volcanoYamagataGassanGassanThe moon mountain of the Dewa Sanzan, realm of the dead and of summer snow.1,984 mEhimeMount IshizuchiIshizuchi-sanThe highest peak in western Japan, climbed by pilgrims on chains of iron.1,982 mGunma, NiigataTanigawa-dakeTanigawa-dakeTwin summits on the divide of Honshū and Japan's most notorious rock walls.1,977 mTokushimaMount TsurugiTsurugi-sanA gentle sacred summit above the hidden valleys of Iya.1,955 mKagoshimaMiyanoura-dakeMiyanoura-dakeThe roof of Kyūshū, rising from the cedar forests of Yakushima.1,936 mWorld HeritageNaraŌmine MountainsŌmine-sanThe sacred spine of the Kii peninsula, training ground of the yamabushi.1,915 mWorld HeritageHokkaidoMount YōteiYōtei-zanEzo Fuji: Hokkaido's symmetrical volcano above the Niseko powder fields.1,898 mActive volcanoYamagata, MiyagiZaō MountainsZaō-zanEmerald crater lake, snow monsters and sulphur springs on the spine of Tōhoku.1,841 mActive volcanoFukushimaMount BandaiBandai-sanAizu Fuji: the volcano whose 1888 collapse created a landscape of lakes.1,816 mActive volcanoOitaKujū MountainsKujū-sanThe roof of Kyūshū: volcanic domes, azalea slopes and high moors.1,791 mActive volcanoTottoriMount DaisenDaisenThe Hōki Fuji: western Japan's sacred volcano between Tottori and the sea.1,729 mHokkaidoMount RishiriRishiri-zanRishiri Fuji: a volcano rising straight from the northern sea.1,721 mActive volcanoKagoshima, MiyazakiKirishima MountainsKirishima-yamaA field of volcanoes where Japanese myth places the descent of the gods.1,700 mActive volcanoAomoriMount IwakiIwaki-sanThe sacred Tsugaru Fuji, rising alone above the apple orchards of Hirosaki.1,625 mActive volcanoKumamotoMount AsoAso-sanA living volcano inside a caldera large enough to hold a city.1,592 mActive volcanoAomoriHakkōda MountainsHakkōda-sanSnow-bound volcanoes above Aomori, with moors, hot springs and snow monsters.1,585 mActive volcanoNagasakiMount UnzenUnzen-dakeA volcano of disaster and renewal above the Shimabara Peninsula.1,483 mActive volcanoKagoshimaSakurajimaSakurajimaThe smoking symbol of Kagoshima, a volcano that never sleeps.1,117 mActive volcanoKagoshimaMount KaimonKaimon-dakeThe Satsuma Fuji, a volcanic cone rising straight from the southern sea.924 mActive volcanoIbarakiMount TsukubaTsukuba-sanThe twin-peaked sacred mountain of the Kantō plain, praised since the Man'yōshū.877 mShiga, KyotoMount HieiHiei-zanThe mountain monastery north-east of Kyoto, cradle of Japanese Buddhism.848 mWorld HeritageTokyoMount TakaoTakao-sanTokyo's own sacred mountain, an hour from Shinjuku.599 m