Mt. Mitsugashira
Mt. Mitsugashira (or simply Mitsugashira), standing at an elevation of 2,580 meters, is situated in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is perched on the main ridge that stretches southeast from Mt. Gongen, and stands taller than its westerly neighbor, Mt. Amigasa. From the southern foothills, Mt. Mitsugashira forms a striking solitary peak. The name "Mitsugashira," which often refers to mountains with three distinct peaks or where three ridges converge, in this case, arises from two prominent ridges branching southeast and southwest from the main ridge. Nearby, just to the southeast, is Mae-mitsugashira, which shares similar topography and is so named because it sits before Mt. Mitsugashira when viewed from the south.
For climbers, there are two main access routes from the JR Koumi Line: one from Kai-Koizumi Station and another from Kai-Oizumi Station. The trail from Kai-Koizumi Station passes through Kane-kake Matsu, the stone shrines of Yatsugatake Shrine, the entrance of Enmei Water (Enmei-sui), and Kido-kuchi Park, leading to the summit. The route from Kai-Oizumi Station takes hikers past Mt. Tennyo, Amano-gawara, and Maemitsugashira before reaching the peak. The estimated hiking time is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes from Kai-Koizumi Station and about 4 hours from Kai-Oizumi Station.
*Before heading out on a hike, make sure to stay updated with the latest information on trails and other important details.