Mt. Asama

Mt. Asama, standing on the border of Nagano and Gunma prefectures, is an active volcano with 2,568 meters elevation and took its form today through repeated eruptions and sector collapses over hundreds of thousands of years. Registered as the Joshin-etsu Kogen National Park, Mt. Asama has a beautiful caldera lake, and is a popular mountain climbing spot, where you can see rare alpine plants, alpine butterflies, and from the summit, there is a great view on the Yatsugatake volcanic group as well as Mt. Fuji in the distance.

(Source: Happy Life。 / PIXTA(ピクスタ) )

Popular Mountain Climbing Spot

Mt. Asama is known as one of the few active volcanoes in the world and is very popular as a mountain climbing spot. Although the height you can reach depends on the eruption alert level, which fluctuates every day, but on a day when the volcanic activity is at its lowest at level 1, you can climb all the way up to a 500-meter distance from the crater.

(Source: mrshu / PIXTA(ピクスタ) )

Take a Break at Tengu Onsen After Climbing

Mt. Asama has several different trails; however, the most popular are the Omote course (front course), through which you can reach to the closest point to the crater, and the Kazankan course (volcano museum course), which is the route from southwest and starts at Tengu Onsen. Kazankan course is especially recommended, as you can rest your body at the Tengu Onsen at the foot of the mountain after climbing down!

(Source: 山遊びの達人)

Onioshidashi-en at the Foot of the Mountain

Onioshidashi-en (chase-away-demons park) at the foot of Mt. Asama is a place formed by lava from the great eruption of 1783. Here, you can see alpine plants blossoming in between the lava, and also learn about the development of Mt. Asama at the Asama Volcano Museum inside the park.