Mount Nishigatake

What it is

• A 727-meter mountain forming part of the Taki Mountains in Tanba-Sasayama.
• A former center for Shugendo practitioners who performed mountain asceticism.
• The northern face features steep cliffs and numerous rocky areas.
• A filming location for a television drama series.

What to see

• The summit provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.
• Aizen-kutsu is a natural cave used as a historic training site.
• A statue of Aizen Myoo is enshrined inside the natural cave.
• Rhododendrons and azaleas grow along the rocky slopes of the mountain.

When to go

• Be aware that bears have been sighted in the vicinity recently.

Getting there

• The climb from Fujioka Dam to the summit takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.