Mount Chichi

What it is

• The highest peak in Niihama City, located within the Ishizuchi mountain range.
• A mountain also known locally as Chichiyama or Chichiyama-dake.
• Part of the protected Sasagamine Nature Conservation Area at the Kokuryo River headwaters.
• A spiritual site featuring a shrine dedicated to Zao Gongen at the summit.

What to see

• A shrine dedicated to Zao Gongen located at the mountain summit.
• Expansive views of the Seto Inland Sea from the highest point.
• The Chichiyama-wakare ridge junction connecting to nearby Sasagamine.
• Natural landscapes within the Sasagamine Nature Conservation Area.

Getting there

• Community buses run from Niihama City directly to the mountain trailhead.
• The climbing route from Daieizan Tunnel takes approximately three and a half hours.
• The hike involves an elevation gain of about 800 meters from the trailhead.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.