Mt. Aotanamba
Mt. Aotanamba, or Aotanamba-yama, reaches an elevation of 949 meters and crowns the Niigata Prefecture, nestled between the cities of Myoko and Joetsu. It is the highest among the "Nanba Five Mountain Range," which also includes the peaks of Mt. Sarugake, Mt. Kagomachi Nanba, Mt. Inuyama Nanba, and Mt. Shigekura.
Renowned for its turtle shell-like contour and as a divide between the Yashiro and Kuwatori Rivers, the mountain is a geological mosaic of Paleogene sedimentary rocks. At its peak lies the revered Nanba Dai-Myojin, with the nearby shrine housing weather-affecting coin-shaped offerings—touched by none due to their supposed power.
For climbers, the ascent starts with a 20-minute drive from Aota Rokkaizuka Shrine to the Nanba Plateau Campsite (Nanba Kogen Kyampujyo), where two main trails begin: the shorter Kiootoshi Slope Course and the longer Myojinzawa Course, which leads to the "Kuwadori Yuttari Village Hot Spring" after a rewarding three-hour trek.
*Before heading out on a hike, make sure to stay updated with the latest information on trails and other important details.