Mount Myōken

What it is

• A mountain on the border of Yabu and Kami within a Quasi-National Park.
• One of the fifty designated mountains of the Hyogo prefecture.
• Named after the Myoken Daibosatsu deity from the nearby Nikko-in Temple.
• Home to Nagusa Shrine which was established during the Meiji era.

What to see

• A large colony of skunk cabbage plants growing on the mountain slopes.
• Geological structures containing various types of ancient marine fossils.
• Hiking trails once used by famous explorers Buntaro Kato and Naomi Uemura.
• The watershed area for the Yada and Hiki rivers.

When to go

• Expect heavy snowfall across the mountain during the winter season.

Getting there

• The hike from Ishihara bus stop takes approximately three hours.
• The summit is a seventy-five minute walk from the local campsite.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.