Tourism Wheel: Mount Kita : the second tallest mountain in Japan

Mount Kita is the second tallest mountain in Japan, after Mount Fuji, and is known as "the Leader of the Southern Alps".

It is included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. It is situated in the city of Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the Akaishi Mountains, which are known as the "Southern Alps" .

Mount Kita from Mount Nakashirane

Tourist Attraction :

The mountain area around Mount Kita is one of the most popular in Japan, reputedly second only to the Mount Yari and Mount Hotaka area.
Access points for climbing are at Hirogawara to the east and Ryōmata to the west; however, most people choose to climb from Hirogawara, where facilities are better. Two mountain huts near the top provide accommodation for up to 150 people and there are campground facilities nearby.

Access Routes :

There are three main access routes to the summit of Mount Kita. The first starts out in Hirogawara and follows the Ōkanbazawa River up through the Daisekkei Valley.
Another route leaves the river valley earlier and emerges from the forest at Shiraneoike-Kusasuberi.
A third trail runs from Ryōmata at the trail head near Nakashiranezawa to the summit of the mountain.

From the summit, a trail runs along the ridge via Nakashiranesan to Mount Aino, Mount Nishinōtori, Mount Nōtori, and continues further south.
An alternate route, has been built, which connects the viewing platform at Jusenzan to the summit, via the head at Bōkonzawa. This approach is not very popular, except in winter, when the path gets greater use. Kitadake Buttress is a classic route for free climbing in Japan.
The main mountain huts in the vicinity of Mount Kita are the Kitadakekatano Hut the Kitadake Mountain Cottage, the Shiraneoike Hut and the Ryōmata Hut.