Yakeyama (Mount Yake), with an elevation of 1,060 meters, is located in Tsukui Town, Tsukui District, Kanagawa Prefecture, at the northern edge of the Tanzawa mountain range. The summit offers expansive views over the three villages of Toriya, Aonohara, and Aone, serving as a boundary between them. These villages are known for enshrining Yakeyama Gongen, where rituals such as rain prayers have been performed. Yakeyama was a communal mountain for these villages, leading to frequent boundary disputes in the past. The mountain's name is said to derive from either the essential thatched fields that were often the cause of wildfires due to negligence or from active burning practices to cultivate quality thatch. Near the summit, beautiful white birch forests can be found.
Hiking Route
The hiking route to Yakeyama starts with a bus ride from Hashimoto Station on the JR Yokohama Line to Nishinono. From there, hikers ascend via the Tokai Nature Trail to the summit, a journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. This route allows hikers to enjoy the natural beauty along the way, offering an accessible hiking experience.