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Okayama ⛰ Mountain 📷 10

Hiruzen

蒜山

High ground with alpine air, big views and trails for every level.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season Late May–October (autumn colour peaks Sep–Oct at altitude)
Time needed Half a day
Admission Free to hike; ropeway roughly ¥1,000–3,000 return (≈ $6–19)
Opening hours Ropeways typically 9:00–16:30, weather permitting

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

What this place is

Hiruzen (蒜山; ひるぜん) is the name of an area located in the north of Maniwa City in the north of Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Hiruzen was formed of 3 small towns: Chuka, Yatsuka, and Kawakami, which together were known as the town of Hiruzen, which was merged with several other towns to become current Maniwa City in 2005. Its main feature is the Hiruzen Sanza (蒜山三座), a mountain located on the border of Okayama and Tottori prefectures on the main island of Honshu in Japan. The Hiruzen Sanza consists of three peaks of similar elevation, the highest being Mt. Kamihiruzen (Hiruzen (上蒜山)) at 1,202 m (3,944 ft). The Hiruzen Highlands, (also known as the Hiruzen Plateau) has an elevation of 500 metres (0.31 mi) to 600 metres (0.37 mi). Hiruzen is an important part of the Daisen-Oki National Park.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Panoramas that open up above the treeline — on clear days you can trace whole valleys and distant ranges.
  • Vegetation that changes with altitude, from cedar forest to alpine flowers within a single climb.
  • Ropeways, toll roads or mountain buses that put the scenery within reach of casual visitors, not just hikers.

What you can do here

  • Ride the ropeway or mountain bus to the upper station and walk the easy loop trail at the top.
  • Photograph the sea of clouds or sunrise — early morning is usually the clearest window.
  • Hike a marked course matched to your time and fitness; most trailheads post an estimated round-trip time.
  • Combine the visit with a nearby hot spring to finish the day.

Getting there

We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.

Area: Okayama

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Temperature drops roughly 0.6°C per 100 m of elevation — bring a windproof layer even in summer.
  • Mountain transport stops early and pauses in winter or bad weather; check the last downhill service.
  • Bring cash: summit shops and mountain huts often have no card readers or signal.

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