Mt. Shinnyu

Mt. Shinnyu at 1,153 meters sits within Nishi-Chugoku Sanchi Quasi-National Park and has been managed through a traditional burning practice called yamayaki since at least 1749. Each April, sections of the mountain are burned before spring growth begins. The ash acts as fertilizer, eliminates pests, and keeps the terrain open enough for rare plants, Ice Age relics, and over 180 species of wildflowers that depend on the grassy landscape. Because seeds remain in the ground rather than being cut away, trees regrow each year. The hike to the summit takes about an hour, and in early summer mornings hikers sometimes see a sea of clouds filling the valleys between surrounding peaks.