Mount Kasa

What it is

• A 2,076-meter lava dome located on the border of Yamanouchi and Takayama
• A prominent symbol of the Shiga Highlands listed among Japan's 300 famous mountains
• The site of the Sano Shrine inner shrine located at the summit
• A geological formation composed primarily of pyroxene andesite

What to see

• The inner shrine of Sano Shrine situated at the mountain peak
• Panoramic views of the Northern Alps and Mount Asama from the summit
• Wild lingonberries and rhododendrons blooming along the mountain slopes
• The distinct shape of the volcanic lava dome

When to go

• Summer months to see the blooming rhododendrons and lingonberries

Getting there

• A seven kilometer hiking trail begins at the Hotaru Onsen bus stop
• The summit is a one hour hike from Touge-no-Chaya
• Note that the original climbing route on the north ridge is currently closed

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.