Mount Ariake

Located in the northwest of Matsumoto Basin in Nagano Prefecture, this mountain is the front mountain of the Northern Alps. It is 2,268 meters above sea level. It is made of granite and its shape resembles that of Mt. Fuji, so it has been called Shinano Fuji by locals since ancient times. There are large and small waterfalls in the mountain, and Ariake Shrine is located there.

Known as a utamakura (poem of poetry) since ancient times, it has been sung in poems such as "I am cold in my hard clothes, and a drizzle falls on Mount Ariake" (Emperor Gotoba). The mountain was named Ariake because, according to legend, when Amaterasu Omikami secluded herself in a cave and the world was plunged into darkness, Tajikarao no Mikoto threw the rock door, which fell here, bringing light to the world. Since the Middle Ages, it has been a training ground for ascetics, and ascetics have been climbing the mountain since the early modern Kyoho era (1716-1736).

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長野県松本盆地の北西に位置する北アルプスの前山。標高2268メートル。花崗(かこう)岩からなり、山容が富士に似ているので古来、地元では信濃富士(しなのふじ)とよんでいる。山中には大小の滝があり、有明神社がある。

　古来から歌枕(うたまくら)として知られ、「かたしきの衣手(ころもで)寒く時雨つつ有明山にかかるむらくも」（後鳥羽院(ごとばいん)）などと歌われた。山名は、天照大神(あまてらすおおみかみ)が岩戸にこもって天下が暗闇(くらやみ)になったとき、手力雄命(たぢからおのみこと)が岩の戸を投げ、その岩がここに落ち、天下が明るくなった山なので有明としたとの伝説がある。中世以後、修験(しゅげん)道場となり、近世享保(きょうほう)年間（1716～1736）からは行者の登山が行われている。

［小林寛義］

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