Akaishi Mountains

Japanese: 赤石山脈 - あかいしさんみゃく

A mountain range with great undulations that stretches across the borders of Yamanashi, Nagano, and Shizuoka prefectures. It stretches approximately 120 kilometers from north to south and 40 kilometers from east to west. It is also called the Southern Alps. It is bounded to the east by the Fuji River and to the west by the Tenryu River. The mountain range is made up of several mountain ranges that run roughly north to south, and geologically it belongs to the Southwest Japan Outer Zone. With the exception of the granite areas of Mount Houou and Mount Kaikoma in the north, it exhibits a folded structure made up of Mesozoic and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or their metamorphosed rocks. The mountain range that runs from north to south has nearly 10 peaks over 3000 meters above sea level, including Mt. Senjo, Mt. Kita, Mt. Aino, Mt. Notori, Mt. Shiomi, Mt. Arakawa, Mt. Akaishi, and Mt. Hijiri. Mt. Kita (3193 meters) is the second highest peak in Japan. There are also more than 30 peaks over 2500 meters. Major rivers that flow down from this mountain range include the Fuji River, Abe River, Oi River, and Tenryu River, all of which are rapids. The valley walls in the mountain range are steep, and due to the geology, there are many collapses. Some mountains have cirques near the peaks, and there are many flower fields, but because it is located in the southern part of Japan's high mountains, the appearance altitude is high, for example, the lowest limit for pumila is around 2500 meters. Due to the abundant nature and beautiful scenery, it has been designated as the Southern Alps National Park. Because the mountain range is so large, the approach is long and the climb through the forested areas is difficult, so development, including the industries of the villages within the Maeyama mountain range, has been delayed. This is why the mountain range has an appeal as a place where nature remains.

[Minoru Yoshimura]

[Reference] | Minami-Alps National Park

Mt. Jizogatake
Together with Mt. Kannon and Mt. Yakushi, this mountain makes up the Houou Sanzan (Mount Houou). It is 2,764m above sea level. It is part of the Minami-Alps National Park. A rock tower called an obelisk stands on the summit. The photo shows the view from near Mt. Kannon. Nirasaki City, Minami-Alps City, and Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture ©Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Mt. Jizogatake

Mount Komagatake (Mount Kaikoma)
A high peak in the northern part of the Akaishi Mountains. It is 2,967 meters above sea level. It is also called Kaikoma-ga-take or Kaikoma. It has been an object of worship since ancient times, and Komagatake Shrine is located on the summit. It is part of the Southern Alps National Park. The photo shows the view from the northeast. To the east (left) of the main peak, the rocky peak of Marishiten juts out. Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture and Ina City, Nagano Prefecture ©Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Mount Komagatake (Mount Kaikoma)

Mount Kita
Located in the Akaishi Mountains, this is the highest peak in the Southern Alps. With an elevation of 3,193m, it is the second highest peak in Japan after Mount Fuji. Together with Mount Ainotake and Mount Notori, it is also known as the Shirane Sanzan or Mount Shirane. It is part of the Southern Alps National Park. The photo shows the view from near Mount Kannon, one of the Houou Sanzan mountains. Southern Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture © Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Mount Kita

Mt. Aino
Located in the northern Akaishi Mountains, this is the fourth highest peak in Japan (3,190m above sea level). Together with Kitadake in the north and Notori-dake in the south, it is called the Shirane Sanzan (Mt. Shirane). It is known for its majestic mountain shape and cirques. It is part of the Minami-Alps National Park. Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Hayakawa Town, Minamikoma District ©Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Mt. Aino

Mt. Notori
A mountain in the northern part of the Akaishi Mountains. It is 3051m above sea level. It is part of the Southern Alps National Park and, together with Kita-dake and Aino-dake, it is one of the Shirane Sanzan (Shiranesan). The photo shows the view from the Southern Alps forest road that runs along the east side of Notori-dake. Hayakawa-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture / Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture © Yamanashi Tourism Organization

Mt. Notori

Mount Akaishi
View from the north. Southern Alps National Park area. Oshika Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture / Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture ©Ministry of the Environment ">

Mount Akaishi

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

山梨、長野、静岡3県の県境に広がる大起伏山地。南北約120キロメートル、東西約40キロメートル。南アルプスともいう。東を富士川、西を天竜川により限られる。山地は、ほぼ南北に走る数条の山系よりなり、地質構造上は西南日本外帯に属す。北部の鳳凰(ほうおう)山、甲斐駒(かいこま)ヶ岳などの花崗(かこう)岩地帯を除き、中・古生代の堆積(たいせき)岩ないしその変成岩からなる褶曲構造(しゅうきょくこうぞう)を示す。南北に走る山地には、仙丈(せんじょう)ヶ岳、北岳、間(あい)ノ岳、農鳥(のうとり)岳、塩見岳、荒川岳、赤石岳、聖(ひじり)岳など標高3000メートル以上が10座近くあり、とくに北岳（3193メートル）は日本第二の高峰である。また、2500メートル以上は30余座に及ぶ。この山地から流下する河川には富士川、安倍(あべ)川、大井川、天竜川などの主要な河川が含まれ、いずれも急流である。山地内の谷壁は急傾斜で、地質との関係で崩壊も多い。山頂付近に圏谷(けんこく)（カール）地形を残す山もあり、お花畑も多いが、日本の高山としては南部に位置するため、その出現高度は、たとえばハイマツの下限は2500メートル付近と高くなっている。豊富な自然と優れた景観により南アルプス国立公園に指定されている。その山地は、大山地のためアプローチが長く、かつ森林帯の登高が厳しく、前山山地内の集落の産業をも含め、開発は遅れていた。それゆえに自然の残る山地としての魅力がある。

［吉村　稔］

[参照項目] | 南アルプス国立公園

地蔵ヶ岳
観音ヶ岳、薬師ヶ岳とともに鳳凰三山（鳳凰山）を構成する山。標高2764m。南アルプス国立公園に含まれる。山頂にはオベリスクとよばれる岩塔がそびえる。写真は観音ヶ岳付近からの眺望。山梨県韮崎市・南アルプス市・北杜市©やまなし観光推進機構">

地蔵ヶ岳

駒ヶ岳（甲斐駒ヶ岳）
赤石山脈北部の高峰。標高2967m。甲斐駒ヶ岳、甲斐駒ともよばれる。古くから信仰の対象とされ、山頂には駒ヶ岳神社がある。南アルプス国立公園の一部。写真は北東側からの眺望。主峰の東（左）には岩峰摩利支天が突き出る。山梨県北杜市・長野県伊那市©やまなし観光推進機構">

駒ヶ岳（甲斐駒ヶ岳）

北岳
赤石山脈にある、南アルプスの最高峰。標高3193mで、富士山に次ぐ日本第2位の高峰である。間ノ岳、農鳥岳とともに白根三山あるいは白根山ともよばれる。南アルプス国立公園の一部。写真は鳳凰三山の一山、観音岳付近からの眺望。山梨県南アルプス市©やまなし観光推進機構">

北岳

間ノ岳
赤石山脈北部にある日本第4位の高峰（標高3190m）。北の北岳、南の農鳥岳とあわせて白根三山（白根山）とよばれる。雄大な山容で、カール（圏谷）をもつことで知られる。南アルプス国立公園の一部。静岡県静岡市／山梨県南アルプス市・南巨摩郡早川町©やまなし観光推進機構">

間ノ岳

農鳥岳

赤石岳