Mount Jōnen

What it is

• A 2,857-meter peak located within the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park in Nagano Prefecture.
• Designated as one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains for its iconic triangular shape.
• Site of the first recorded foreign ascent by Walter Weston in 1894.
• A traditional destination for local middle school climbing trips and experienced hikers.

What to see

• A small shrine and a directional map located at the mountain summit.
• The Jōnen Hut mountain lodge which has operated near the peak since 1919.
• Native wildlife including rock ptarmigans and Japanese serows in high-altitude zones.
• Granite rock formations visible along the northern side of the mountain.

When to go

• Springtime to see a snow pattern resembling a monk appear on the slopes.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.