Mt. Kayagatake
Mt. Kayagatake (or simply Kayagatake), rising to 1,704 meters, is nestled near the cities of Kai, Hokuto, and Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is a part of the Kurofuji Volcanic Group, along with Mt. Kanagatake, Mt. Magaridake, Kurofuji, and Mt. Tachiokayama, and it’s known for its graceful and widely sprawling conical shape of andesite.
Sometimes mistaken for Mt. Yatsugatake, and occasionally referred to as "False Yatsugatake," Mt. Kayagatake is only a kilometer south of Mt. Kanagatake, which is 60 meters taller and considered the main peak. However, Mt. Kayagatake is more renowned, leading to its common misidentification.
The geology of the area consists entirely of andesite and its deposits. The western side, areas like Asaohara and Nagaihara, is known for water scarcity, which has led to historical developments in water channeling, yet water shortages persist, delaying cultivation. The region is also rich in Jomon period archaeological sites. Since the Heian period, government-operated ranches were established, with Ogasawara and Hosaka being well-known for producing horses in Kai region. The area along the Kamanashi River is prone to flooding, and since the highlands served as the ancient Hosaka Road, it's a region with many historical sites and legends from the medieval to the early modern periods.
Fukada Kyuya, author of "Nihon Hyaku Meizan" (One Hundred Famous Mountains of Japan), tragically passed away on this mountain on March 21, 1971, while resting on a ridge just short of the summit with friends. Nirasaki City has since established Fukada Memorial Park at the trailhead, and an annual memorial service is held there every third Sunday in April.
For the climb, from Nirasaki City, you can drive or take a taxi to Fukada Park, walk the forest road to near Onna-iwa, and then ascend the steep slopes and ridges of oak forest to reach the summit. To reach Mt. Kanagatake, you follow the ridge down and then up again. From Hokuto City's Akano area, there’s a ridgeline route to the summits of Kayagatake and Kanagatake, while from Kai City, the climb starts from Kannon Pass and proceeds via Mt. Kanagatake. These routes require checking bus schedules in advance due to limited services. The walk from Fukada Park to Onna-iwa takes about one hour, another hour to the summit from there, and an additional hour for the round trip to Mt. Kanagatake.
*Before heading out on a hike, make sure to stay updated with the latest information on trails and other important details.