Mount Ryokami

This mountain is located in the western part of Saitama Prefecture, on the border between the southern part of Ogano Town, Chichibu County, and the Otaki district of Chichibu City. It is 1,723 meters above sea level. It is made up of the Chichibu Mesozoic and Paleozoic strata, and the summit area is made of hard chert, giving it an extremely steep ridge and a unique shape. The mountain is called Ryogamiyama because the two gods Izanagi and Izanami are enshrined at the inner shrine of Ryogami Shrine just below the summit. It is said to have been founded by En no Ozunu during the Nara period, and in the Edo period it was a bustling training ground for ascetic monks. Ryogami Shrine is located at the foot of the mountain, and Fudo Falls is located midway up. The mountain opens on May 10th, and near the summit, rhododendrons and azaleas bloom from late May to early June, and in autumn the leaves turn red. From the summit, you can see mountains such as Okuchichibu, Nikko, and Yatsugatake. In addition to the path that starts from Hinata Oya at the foot of the mountain, there is also a path that starts from Haccho Pass in the north.

[Masatami Nakayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

埼玉県西部、秩父(ちちぶ)郡小鹿野町(おがのまち)の南部と秩父市大滝(おおたき)地区の境界にある山。標高1723メートル。秩父中・古生層からなる山で、とくに山頂付近は硬いチャートからなるため、山稜(さんりょう)はきわめて急峻(きゅうしゅん)で、特異な山容を呈する。山頂直下の両神神社奥社に伊弉諾・伊弉冉尊(いざなぎいざなみのみこと)の二神を祀(まつ)るので両神山とよばれる。奈良時代に役小角(えんのおづぬ)が開山したと伝えられ、江戸時代、修験(しゅげん)者の道場としてにぎわった。山麓(さんろく)に両神神社、中腹に不動滝がある。5月10日が山開きで、山頂付近では5月下旬から6月上旬にかけてヤシオツツジ、シャクナゲが咲き、秋は紅葉で美しい。山頂からは奥秩父、日光、八ヶ岳(やつがたけ)などの山々を望むことができる。山麓の日向大谷(ひなたおおや)から登る道のほか、北の八丁峠から登る道もある。

［中山正民］

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