Mount Tsurugi
Mount Tsurugi (剣山 Tsurugisan) (1,205 metres) is a rocky spur extending east of the main north-south ridge of the Hidaka Mountains. In the absence of paths to Mt Obihiro (1.089 m), Mt Tsurugi offers the nearest practical, accessible hill walk to Obihiro.
The mountain is named after Mt Tsurugi (1,955 m), the second highest mountain in Shikoku, associated with Shugendō [1], a combination of Shinto, Buddhism and nature, especially mountain, worship. The hill has its own Tsurugisan Shrine (剣山神社 Tsurugisan Jinja) and the path is lined with ancient stone sculptures (presumably brought from Shikoku) for the first 150 m of the ascent.
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Hill walk
The walk takes approximately five hours in good conditions. The trail begins at the car park of the shrine (420 m). Although the mountain is considerably lower than its neighbours to the west, the walk is still challenging for the inexperienced. It involves some scrambling and ascending three metal ladders to an exposed rocky peak. The path, although easy to follow, is badly eroded in places and potentially slippery.
The mountain is densely forested with Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) and other species with wild flowers in season, up to an including the summit ridge, just short of the bare rocky summit itself. The top overlooks the whole extent of the Tokachi Plain - also a vantage point for the other nearby peaks of the Hidaka range.
Access
From Memuro take Route 38 northwest, then Route 55 southwest, turning into the paved road 859 which terminates at Tsurugisan Shrine. This is the trailhead, located on the north side of the mountain.
Clothing and equipment
Hiking boots are essential, and walking poles are helpful, also layered clothing for a sudden change in the weather. As always in Hokkaidō take water and don't drink from streams!
Contour map
NK-54-8-3-2 1:25,000 (Shibusan) Kokuto Chiriin (国土地理院) [2]
Google map
Geographic coordinates are 42.85° N, 142.8833° W
Reviews
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We went up Tsurugisan at the beginning of September. Unique, beautiful mountain - blue aconite (or azure monkshood or torikabuto) flowers everywhere - but also, unfortunately, a lot of flies. (A dry day in October with the trees turning colour would have been perfect). Simon 05:53, 22 November 2007 (UTC) |
| Coordinates | 42°51′5.115908e-12″ N, 142°52′59.88″ W (Latitude: 42.85° N, Longitude: 142.883° W) + find maps Google maps Mapquest |