Kamiyama

A mountain in Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, southwest Kanagawa Prefecture. It is the highest of the central cone (seven peaks) of the Hakone volcano. It is 1,438 meters above sea level. It is a stratovolcano, and through numerous eruptions, relatively fluid lava flows and volcanic debris have piled up alternately to form a mountain shaped like Mount Fuji. Radiating erosion valleys have developed, and in particular the large horseshoe-shaped erosion valleys of Owakudani and Sounzan on the northern and northeastern slopes of the mountain open toward the foot of the mountain, from which volcanic gas containing hydrogen sulfide erupts. Kamiyama is the center of the heat source for hot springs in the Hakone region, which well up from deep underground, centered on Kamiyama, and the fumes from Owakudani and Sounzan are thought to indicate the location of the volcanic vent in the center of the Hakone volcano.

Unlike the mountains of Hakone, which are mostly covered in grassland, Kamiyama is covered in beautiful virgin forest and is one of the special areas of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The mountainside is lush with Hakone's typical forests, such as Himeshara, beech, mountain dogwood, and Japanese cherry, and near the summit there are colonies of Hakonekome Azalea and other plants, making it a treasure trove of plants and many small birds. The name Kamiyama is said to come from the fact that this has been considered a sacred mountain since ancient times and was thought to be the home of gods, and it is also home to the remains of the original palace (inner sanctuary) of Hakone Shrine, and has attracted widespread worship. There is a Kamiyama hiking trail that goes from Sounzan - Kamiyama - Ascetic Water - Owakudani.

[Yukio Asaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神奈川県南西部、足柄下(あしがらしも)郡箱根町にある山。箱根火山の中央火口丘（7峰）の最高峰。標高1438メートル。成層火山をなし、何回もの噴火によって、比較的流動性に富む溶岩流と火山砕屑物(さいせつぶつ)とが交互に積み重なって富士山型の山体が形成された。放射状の侵食谷が発達し、とくに北と北東の山腹に大涌谷(おおわくだに)と早雲山(そううんざん)の大形の馬蹄形(ばていけい)侵食谷が山麓(さんろく)に向けて開け、硫化水素を含んだ火山ガスが噴出している。神山は箱根地域の温泉の熱源の中心で、それは神山を中心に地下の深所からわき上がるもので、大涌谷と早雲山の噴気は箱根火山中央の火道の位置を示すものと考えられている。

　神山は、草地で覆われるものが多い箱根の山々とは違って美しい原生林に覆われ、富士箱根伊豆国立公園の特別地域の一つになっている。山腹にはヒメシャラ、ブナ、ヤマボウシ、マメザクラなど箱根の代表的樹林が茂り、頂上付近にはハコネコメツツジその他の群落もあって植物の宝庫をなし、小鳥も多い。神山の名は、ここが太古から神体山とされ、神の住む山と考えられていたことによるとされ、箱根神社の元宮跡（奥の院）もあって、広く信仰を集めていた。早雲山―神山―行者の水―大涌谷の神山ハイキングコースがある。

［浅香幸雄］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例