Mt. Arafune
2.5 hours to the top
Mt. Arafuneyama Mountain Pass Trai
Let’s enjoy geo-mountain climbing while enjoying the geo-site!
Mt. Arafune was named after a flat peak among the surrounding steep mountains, which looks like a warship floating on rough seas. Why was such a flat terrain created? Let’s enjoy climbing the mountain while thinking about it.
Point 1: Entrance to the trail
If you look closely at the surrounding rocks, you will see that there are stones embedded in the rocks. These rocks were spewed out from the volcano, and the surrounding area is filled with volcanic ash and lava.
Point 2: Ruins of the Shear Rock Shugendojo
In the past, a dojo for those who practiced asceticism at Mt. Arafune stood here. The foundation of the dojo still remains. The cliffs behind the dojo are the strata of the lake before the eruption of Arafune lava. Striped patterns created by the layering of the strata can be seen here and there.
Point 3: A cup of water
The cliffs where the water drips down are different from the previous formations, turning into a black, unmixed formation. This is lava that flowed about 8 to 7 million years ago. The lava continues all the way to the summit from here, and you will be ascending the lava cliffs. Take a break here and taste the water that gushes out from the lava plateau.
Point 4: Stern Rock
You can stand on the cliff of Stern Rock (Tomoiwa). From here, Mt. Asama can be seen on a clear day.