Mt. Kumotori

It is featured on the lists of the "100 Famous Japanese Mountains," "100 Mountains of Tama," and "100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi." Straddling the border between Saitama and Tokyo, it is widely celebrated as the highest peak in Tokyo. It is the only mountain within Tokyo whose elevation exceeds 2,000 meters, and it is said that its name comes from its height, which seems close enough to reach the clouds.

In addition, it is the hometown of Tanjiro Kamado, the main character of the popular manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and his younger sister Nezuko. Because it is the place where the family lived making charcoal before the story begins, it has also attracted attention as a sacred site of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

It is an intermediate-level mountain that is usually climbed on a two-day itinerary

Even if you have climbing experience and are confident in your legs, you need to start climbing early in the morning if you plan to do a day hike. Mountain accidents are frequent, such as slipping and falling when hurrying, or becoming unable to move due to fatigue, so it is necessary to be fully prepared with proper equipment and physical condition, and to plan a schedule with plenty of leeway.

Recommended for those who want to try an overnight mountain-climbing trip

There are accommodation facilities such as "Kumotori Sanso," "Sanjo-no-Yu," "Kumotori Mountain Emergency Hut," "Gojunin-daira Campsite," "Nanatsuishi Hut," and "Kirimogamine Rest Area," which are open all year round. Since they are scattered from the foot of the mountain to the summit, a key point is that they can accommodate various climbing schedules and routes. Depending on the facility, advance reservations or preparations for self-catering may be required, so be sure to check the rules before using them.

Famous as a sacred peak of mountain worship

Because it is a mountain so high that it seems you could reach the clouds, it has long been regarded as a sacred place connecting heaven and earth. From the Heian period to the Nara period, it was also used as a training ground for Shugendo, and it is said that practitioners lived on Mount Kumotori while engaging in fasting, meditation, and winter mountaineering during the harshest season.

It is also said that on Mount Kumotori, mysterious phenomena occur, such as strange lights visible on winter nights and sounds that are not caused by the wind, and such records are also connected with mountain worship.