Mt. Kaikomagatake

Mt. Kaikomagatake reaches 2,967 meters in the Southern Alps, about 6 kilometers north of Mt. Kitadake. The route along the Kuroto ridge to the summit was first climbed in 1816 and became a pilgrimage route for Shugendo practitioners, who would ascend in white robes chanting sutras until the start of World War II. The climb is ranked among Japan's three most demanding, due to numerous ladders, chains, and steep rocky passages. The elevation gain from Yokote Komagatake Shrine at 770 meters is nearly 2,200 meters, and most hikers split the ascent over two days. A small secondary shrine at the summit marks the site's lasting spiritual significance.