Japan has 4 main islands; Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Additionally, the 5th biggest island is Okinawa Island. Together they make up the majority of Japan. The 5 summits challenge will be a challenge to summit the tallest mountain on each of these islands within 5 days. As a start, it is best to identify the different mountains I will climb during this challenge.
The 5 mountains that I will be climbing during the challenge are:
- Mount Fuji- Honshu
Fuji is undoubtedly the hardest of these climbs, taking the most time (approximately 5-10 hours) and physically being the most difficult to summit, being the tallest, coldest and longest climb.
The base camp of the mountain is located 2-3 hours by train from Tokyo, the capital.
It is known for being the tallest mountain in Japan and is attributed a large amount of significance in Japanese tradition.
- Mount Asahi- Hokkaido
Taking around 4-6 hours, Asahi is a moderately long climb.
It is located around 4 hours by public transport from Sapporo and an hour from Asahikawa airport.
It is the tallest mountain and volcano in Hokkaido and has many sights of natural beauty such as a hot spring and nearby waterfalls.
- Mount Nakadake- Kyushu
Mount Nakadake is located in the Kuju Mountains- next to Mount Aso. Whilst it is the tallest, it is relatively uncommon for it to be climbed.
To climb it, a preemptive bus service for the summer would allow for this to happens, however it is based on prediction.
In case of such a schedule not working out as there is too few buses, it is assumed that Mount Aso will be climbed instead, with this attempt at Mount Takadake at its' peak.
- Mount Ishizuchi- Shikoku
Mount Ishizuchi will take around 3.5 hours to complete using the Joju trail path.
It is located on Shikoku inland from Matsuyama in the Ehime prefecture.
It is of great importance as it is one of the seven religious peaks in Japan. It is also named the “stone hammer” after its sharp nature of its summit.
- Mount Yonaha- Okinawa
This, mount Yonaha, is the smallest of the five peaks and will only take a maximum of 2 hours to summit and return.
It is located in the North of Okinawa Island, within the Yanbaru national park.
It is the highest point on the Okinawa Island (although not of the Okinawa archipelago) and has its marker at 498m despite a higher point of 503m elsewhere which is largely accepted as the true height of the mountain.
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