Okuchichibu

Japanese: 奥秩父 - おくちちぶ

The Chichibu Mountains, which stretch from the western Kanto region to the eastern Chubu region, are a high mountain range that stretches west of the Chichibu Basin. It mainly spans four prefectures: Saitama, Yamanashi, Gunma, and Nagano. It is a series of steep mountains with elevations of 1,700 to 2,600 meters. The geology is dominated by the Chichibu Mesozoic and Paleozoic strata, the Otaki Group, the Sanchu Rift Valley, and granitic rocks on the Yamanashi side. The main mountain ranges are those that run along the Saitama-Yamanashi and Nagano-Yamanashi prefecture border, including Mt. Kumotori (2,017 meters), Mt. Kobushigatake (2,475 meters), Mt. Kinpu (2,599 meters), and Mt. Mizugaki (2,230 meters), with Mt. Ryokami (1,723 meters) located near the Saitama-Gunma prefecture border.

These mountains are mostly covered with virgin forests, and through them flow the headwaters of rivers such as the Arakawa, Tamagawa, Fuefukigawa, Chikumagawa, and Kannagawa. In particular, Manosawa of the Arakawa River and Nishizawa Valley of the Fuefuki River are known for the beauty of their headwaters, while Shosenkyo and Nakatsukyo are known for the beauty of their gorges with their fresh greenery and autumn leaves. In the mountains, there are artificial lakes created by dams, such as Lake Chichibu, Lake Okutama, and Lake Kanna, as well as beautiful passes such as Karisaka Pass, Jumonji Pass, and Shinshu Pass. Masutomi Hot Springs at the foot of Mount Kinpu is famous for its high radium content.

The Chichibu Mountains do not have the scenery that the mountains suggest, but the views are good, so many people climb them from spring to autumn, and especially in summer. Trailheads include Mitsumine Shrine and Tochimoto on the Saitama side, Hirose, Kurodaira, and Masutomi on the Yamanashi side, and Azusayama in Nagano. All of these are simple mountain villages, and are not chaotically crowded with climbers. There are also a relatively large number of mountain huts, and huts such as Kumotori, Karisaka, and Kobushin have guards stationed there in the summer. The season for alpine plants begins in mid-July, when the rhododendrons are beautiful, and the autumn leaves change color from mid-October, and there are many famous spots.

[Masatami Nakayama]

"Hara Zenkyo (ed.) 'Okuchichibu Research' (1959, Hobundo)"

Mount Kinpu
Located in the western part of the Chichibu Mountains, this is one of the main peaks in the mountain range. It is 2,599m above sea level. It was once a sacred mountain. At the summit stands Gojoiwa, the symbol of the mountain. The photo shows the view from Mt. Kokushigatake to the east. It is part of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture / Kawakami Village, Minamisaku District, Nagano Prefecture © Yamanashi Tourism Organization

Mount Kinpu

Mount Mizugaki
A mountain located in northern Yamanashi Prefecture, near the western edge of the Chichibu Mountains. It is 2,230 meters above sea level. It is a scenic spot with strangely shaped rocks made of granite jutting out from the entire mountain, and is included in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture ©Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Mount Mizugaki

Nishizawa Valley
A valley in the upper reaches of the Fuefuki River in the northern part of Yamanashi City. It is known for the beauty of the valley's waterfalls and pools, which were formed when the clear stream eroded the granite. It is part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. Many tourists visit the valley in early summer when the rhododendrons bloom and in autumn when the leaves change color. The photo shows Nanatsugama Godan Falls. Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture © Yamanashi Tourism Promotion Organization ">

Nishizawa Valley

Shosenkyo
A gorge in the upper reaches of the Arakawa River, which flows through central-northern Yamanashi Prefecture. Its official name is Ontake Shosenkyo. It is a scenic spot where oddly shaped rocks and bizarre stones created by the erosion of the Arakawa River can be seen everywhere, and is included in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The photo shows Kakuenbo, a huge rock that is also the symbol of Shosenkyo. Nationally designated special scenic spot Kofu City and Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture © Yamanashi Tourism Organization ">

Shosenkyo

Nakatsu Gorge
This is a scenic spot on the Nakatsugawa River that flows through the west of Chichibu City. It is part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. As a representative tourist spot in Okuchichibu, many people visit during the seasons of new greenery and autumn leaves. Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture © Chichibu City Tourism Division ">

Nakatsu Gorge

Lake Chichibu
This lake was created by the Futase Dam, which was built at the confluence of the Arakawa River and its tributary, the Oobora River, in the west of Chichibu City. It was named by Princess Chichibu, who has deep ties to the area, in 1962 (Showa 37). There are walking trails in the surrounding area, making it one of the tourist attractions in Okuchichibu. It is part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture © Chichibu City Tourism Division ">

Lake Chichibu

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

関東地方西部から中部地方東部にまたがる秩父山地のうち、秩父盆地より西に連なる高峻(こうしゅん)な山域。主として埼玉、山梨、群馬、長野の4県にわたって広がる。標高1700メートルから2600メートルほどの急峻な山地が連なる。地質は秩父中・古生層が広く分布し、また大滝層群や山中地溝帯があり、さらに山梨県側には花崗(かこう)岩類が分布している。おもな山地は、埼玉、山梨および長野、山梨県境に沿って、雲取(くもとり)山（2017メートル）、甲武信(こぶし)ヶ岳（2475メートル）、金峰(きんぷ)山（2599メートル）、瑞牆(みずがき)山（2230メートル）と続く山々で、両神(りょうかみ)山（1723メートル）は埼玉・群馬県境近くにある。

　これらの山々は、大部分が原生林で、その間を荒川、多摩川、笛吹(ふえふき)川、千曲(ちくま)川、神流(かんな)川などの河川の源流が流れる。とくに、荒川の真ノ沢や笛吹川の西沢渓谷は源流の美しさで知られるし、昇仙(しょうせん)峡や中津(なかつ)峡は新緑や紅葉の峡谷美で知られる。山中には、ダムによってつくられた秩父湖、奥多摩湖、神流湖などの人造湖があり、雁坂(かりさか)峠、十文字峠、信州峠などの美しい峠もある。金峰山麓(さんろく)の増富(ますとみ)温泉は、ラジウムの含有量の多いことで有名である。

　秩父山地は、山容の示す風景には乏しいが、眺望がよいので、春から秋、とくに夏に登山する人が多い。登山口としては、埼玉県側の三峰(みつみね)神社、栃本(とちもと)、山梨県側の広瀬、黒平(くろだいら)、増富、長野県梓山(あずさやま)などがある。いずれも素朴な山村で、登山者でごった返すような混乱はない。山小屋も比較的多く、雲取、雁坂、甲武信などの山小屋は、夏季には番人が常住する。高山植物の季節は7月中旬からで、シャクナゲが美しく、紅葉は10月中旬からで、幾多の名所がある。

［中山正民］

『原全教編『奥秩父研究』（1959・朋文堂）』

金峰山
秩父山地西部に位置する、同山地の主峰の一つ。標高2599m。かつては霊場の山であった。山頂には山のシンボル、五丈岩が立つ。写真は東方の国師ヶ岳からの眺望。秩父多摩甲斐国立公園の一部。山梨県甲府市／長野県南佐久郡川上村©やまなし観光推進機構">

金峰山

瑞牆山
山梨県北部、秩父山地の西端近くにある山。標高2230m。花崗岩からなる奇岩が全山に突出する奇勝で、秩父多摩甲斐国立公園に含まれる。山梨県北杜市©やまなし観光推進機構">

瑞牆山

西沢渓谷
山梨市北部、笛吹川上流にある渓谷。清流が花崗岩を浸食してできた滝や淵の渓谷美で知られる。秩父多摩甲斐国立公園の一部。初夏のシャクナゲの開花期や秋の紅葉の季節には多くの観光客が訪れる。写真は七ツ釜五段の滝。山梨県山梨市©やまなし観光推進機構">

西沢渓谷

昇仙峡
山梨県中北部を流れる荒川上流の峡谷。正式には御嶽昇仙峡という。荒川の浸食によってつくりだされた奇岩・怪石が至る所に見られる景勝地で、秩父多摩甲斐国立公園に含まれる。写真は昇仙峡のシンボルともなっている巨岩、覚円峰。国指定特別名勝　山梨県甲府市・甲斐市©やまなし観光推進機構">

昇仙峡

中津峡

秩父湖
秩父市西部、荒川本流と支流の大洞川の合流点につくられた二瀬ダムによってできた湖。1962年（昭和37）、同地にゆかりの深い秩父宮妃により命名された。周辺には遊歩道も整備されており、奥秩父の観光名所の一つとなっている。秩父多摩甲斐国立公園の一部。埼玉県秩父市©秩父市観光課">