Mt. Omuro

Rising 580 meters above the Izu coast, Mt. Omuro is a perfectly bowl-shaped dormant volcano covered in soft green grass that makes it look almost artificially smooth. A chairlift carries visitors to the rim, where a paved path circles the crater in about 20 minutes with 360-degree views stretching from the Pacific Ocean to Mt. Fuji on clear days. Every February the entire mountain is set ablaze in a dramatic controlled burn (yamayaki) that regenerates the grass. The combination of unusual geology and effortless accessibility makes it one of the Izu Peninsula's most satisfying stops.