Mt. Azuma

Mount Azuma, known locally as Azuma-Kofuji for its resemblance to Fuji, rises to 1,705 meters in the mountains west of Fukushima city. A toll road called the Bandai-Azuma Skyline takes you most of the way up, and from the parking area near the summit crater it's a short walk around the rim. The crater views are good and the scale is easy to grasp. On clear days the panorama extends to Fukushima city below and the ranges beyond. The road itself, crossing alpine terrain above the treeline, is worth the drive. Cherry blossoms and summer wildflowers bring visitors in spring and summer, while autumn turns the lower slopes orange and yellow.