Summary of Hiking Activities (May 2025 – February 2026)

 From Li Kun

伊吹山（いぶきやま）は滋賀県最高峰（1,377m）

Mount Ibuki is located near Nagoya, and it is possible to drive most of the way up the mountain. From the parking area, it only takes about ten to twenty minutes of hiking to reach the summit. On clear days, you can see Lake Biwa from the top. The scenery at the summit is not particularly distinctive, but you can observe wild animals and hear birdsong. It is a very suitable place for people who are interested in plants and wildlife.

赤城山

Mount Akagi is located relatively close to Tokyo, and it takes about two and a half hours to drive there from Tsukuba. Although it does not have particularly distinctive scenery, it is still a good place for hiking.

富士山

Mount Fuji needs no introduction. This time, I completed the climb and descent in a single day, taking about 11 hours in total.

日光白根山（にっこうしらねさん）は、栃木県と群馬県の県境に位置する標高2,578mの火山で、関東地方の最高峰です。

Mount Nikkō-Shirane is the highest peak in the Kantō region, but the hiking difficulty is not very high. You can also see a volcanic crater lake, which is quite spectacular. I highly recommend it.

白馬八方尾根（八方池）

Nagano is beautiful in all four seasons. However, I did not have much time then and only had one day available for hiking and enjoying the autumn scenery, so I eventually chose to go to Happo Pond. The visibility was best in the morning, but during the hike it kept changing, sometimes clear and sometimes foggy. When we arrived at Happo Pond, the visibility was still acceptable. However, in less than half an hour, the area around the pond was completely covered by fog, and the visibility dropped to only about two or three meters. Fortunately, I was still able to enjoy the autumn scenery.

黒斑山（くろふやま）は、長野県と群馬県にまたがる標高2,404mの山で、活火山・浅間山の第1外輪山の最高峰です。

I visited Mount Kurofu in July 2025. Before going, I did not expect the scenery at the summit to be so beautiful. During most of the hike, the views were fairly ordinary—just a typical mountain trail through the forest. However, once we reached the summit (or close to it), the landscape suddenly opened up. From Mount Kurofu, we could overlook Mount Asama.

The view was truly breathtaking. It was also the first time I experienced the atmosphere of a volcano in early summer. Mount Asama is an active volcano, and from that vantage point you can see the entire slope from the base to the summit. The greenery appears in beautiful layers, creating a very striking landscape.

Highly recommended.

草津白根山頂にある湯釜は、直径約300m、水深約30mの神秘的なエメラルドグリーンの火口湖で、世界有数の酸性湖です。周囲は白い岩肌の月面のような風景ですが、活火山であり、噴火警戒レベル2の規制により2025年現在も周辺への立ち入りや見学はできません。

Currently, climbing to Yugama is prohibited, although the scenery there is very beautiful.

北横岳（きたよこだけ）は、長野県の八ヶ岳連峰北部にある標高2,480mの山。

I visited Kitayokodake this January. Although there was snow, the hike was not very difficult. The scenery was fairly good.