Mount Tate

Mount Tate
Mount Tateyama, 立山

Mount Tate (Mt. Fuji-no-Oritate, Mt. Oonanji, Mt. O) and Mikuri Pond
Highest point
Elevation 3,015 m (9,892 ft) [1]
Listing List of mountains in Japan
100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Coordinates 36°34′33″N 137°37′11″E / 36.57583°N 137.61972°E / 36.57583; 137.61972Coordinates: 36°34′33″N 137°37′11″E / 36.57583°N 137.61972°E / 36.57583; 137.61972 [1]
Naming
Translation Standing Mountain (Japanese)
Geography
Mount Tate
Location in Japan
Location Toyama Prefecture, Japan
Parent range Hida Mountains
Topo map Geospatial Information Authority 25000:1 剱岳[1]
50000:1 立山
Climbing
First ascent Saeki no Ariyori ca. 8th century

Mount Tateyama (立山, Tate-yama, IPA: [tate]) (commonly referred to as simply Tateyama) is located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at 3,015 m (9,892 ft) and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" (三霊山, Sanreizan). Strictly speaking, Tateyama itself is the popular term for a mountain consisting of the three peaks Ōnanjiyama (大汝山, 3,015m), Oyama (雄山, 3,003m), and Fuji-no-Oritateyama, (富士ノ折立, 2,999m),[2] and does not exist as a single peak.[3] Tateyama is the tallest mountain in the Tateyama Mountain Range (立山連峰, Tateyama-renpō).

The climbing season for Tateyama is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori during Japan's Asuka period. The area was designated the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park on December 4, 1934.[4][5]

Name

The kanji for the mountain (立山 Tateyama), which is called Tateyama in Japanese, mean "standing 立 or outstanding 顕" and "mountain", respectively. The pronunciation of tate is two syllables similar to tah-tei rather than gate. The Toyama Prefectural Government uses the name Mount Tateyama as an official translation of the Japanese mountain (although it is redundant, "Mount Mount Tate") because it shares its name with the neighboring town of Tateyama . English-speaking locals tend to use the Japanese name Tateyama when referring to the mountain.

Geology

The mountain is composed primarily of granite and gneiss. However, located along the ridge and plateau about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the summit is a small andesite-dacite stratovolcano, confusingly also named Tateyama after its far more famous neighbor.[6] This volcano has an elevation of 2,621 m (8,599 ft), and has had minor historical eruptions, the latest in 1839.

Geography

Location

Tateyama is located in southeastern Toyama Prefecture. At the base of the mountain is the town of Tateyama, which is accessible by train from the prefecture's capital city, Toyama. Public transportation will take climbers and tourists as far as the Murodo Plateau Station at an elevation of 2,450 m (8,038 ft), from where individuals may climb to the peak on foot. These are the only glaciers in Japan.

Nearby mountains

Mount Tate, Mount Bessan and Mount Tsurugi seen from Mount Kashimayari at sunset
Image Mountain Elevation Distance and
direction
from the Top 		Note
Mt. Tsurugi
剱岳		 2,999 m (9,839 ft) 5.3 km (3.3 mi)
North		 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Bessan
別山		 2,880 m (9,449 ft) 2.4 km (1.5 mi)
North
Mt. Tate
立山		 3,015 m (9,892 ft) 0 km (0.0 mi) 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
the tallest mountain in Toyama Prefecture
Mt. Ryuō
龍王岳		 2,872 m (9,423 ft) 1.7 km (1.1 mi)
Southwest
Mt. Harinoki
針ノ木岳		 2,820.60 m (9,254 ft) 7.2 km (4.5 mi)
Southeast		 200 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Akaushi
赤牛岳		 2,864.23 m (9,397 ft) 12.8 km (8.0 mi)
South		 200 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Yakushi
薬師岳		 2,926.01 m (9,600 ft) 13.7 km (8.5 mi)
Southwest		 100 Famous Japanese Mountains

Rivers

The mountain is the source of the following rivers, each of which flows to the Sea of Japan.[7]

Mountain sights

There are many sights along Tateyama. From the highest to the lowest, these sights include the following.

Located by the Oyama peak is Oyama Shrine, where climbers can receive a blessing and warm sake from a priest. There is also a rest area where climbers may buy food, drinks, and souvenirs. This peak is better known but it is some way from the highest point of the mountain (Onanjiyama).

On Murodo Plateau the contains Murodō Station is a shopping area and onsen bath. The onsen on Tateyama is famously known for its use of sulfur spring water for the bath, leaving a noticeable aroma that can be detected even while ascending the mountain. Visitors can also find several hiking and walking paths that take them through the beautiful valleys, and take a look at Devil's Valley (Jigokudani). With many volcanic areas in Japan by the same name, visitors are no longer able to walk within the sulfur valley due to gas-related safety concerns. Murodo is a great place to hike from mid-July to mid-November. The summer months are dappled with greenery and some leftover snow from winter, while from mid-September, visitors can enjoy bright autumn colors along the entire route.

From April 15 to mid-June, you can enjoy the snow walls named Yukino-ōtani, which tower anywhere from 15 to 20 meters high (roughly 50 to 65 feet). They flank the road leading to Murodo Station, where visitors can enjoy hot, delicious food after walking between the impressive, but chilly, snow walls. There are many charter services from Taipei, Inchon and Thailand during the high season to reach Murodo at this time.

From Murodo, visitors can also reach Kurobe Dam, which stands at 186 meters (610 feet), making it the tallest dam in Japan. From Murodō Station, visitors should take the Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus (10 minutes), followed by the Tateyama Ropeway (7 minutes), and finally the Kurobe Cable Car (5 minutes). From the last stop, a 15-minute walk will take visitors to the dam.

Midagahara is a flat walking area filled with flowing plains interrupted by blue ponds. Near the bus stop that returns visitors to Bijodaira back down the mountain is a slightly hidden walking path. Midagahara is accessible from Tateyama Station via the Tateyama Cable Car (7 minutes) followed by Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route bus (about 40 minutes) that goes in the direction of Murodō Station.

On clear days, climbers can see Shōmyō Falls (the tallest waterfall in Japan) across the valley while traveling along the main road from Tateyama Station to the Murodo Plateau. For a closer look, visitors can take a bus from Tateyama Station to the Shōmyō Falls stop (about 20 minutes). From there, visitors can walk to the falls up a steady slope (about 20 minutes). There is a large bridge as well as two viewing platforms to get views of the Falls.

Scenery of Tateyama

Tateyama
from Higashi-Ichinokoshi		 Tateyama
from Mt. Bessan		 Tateyama and Mt. Tsurugi
from Mt. Jii		 Tateyama and Mt. Tsurugi
from Mt. Asahi

Access

Climbing the 3015m high Tateyama is only a one day trip. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is available for personal use and sightseeing buses from Toyama Station are also available for group touring.

You can reach Murodo, the highest valley on Tateyama to begin climbing to Oyama Shrine, walk around by onsen and see Hell's Valley (Jigokudani), or else enjoy the various other walking paths available by taking the following route:

Arrive at Toyama Station which, from March 2015, is accessible by Hokuriku Shinkansen (trains Kagayaki or its slightly slower counterpart, Hakutaka) from Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, and various other stations along the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. Take the train going in the direction of Tateyama from Dentetsu Toyama Station to Tateyama Station (Toyama) by Toyama Chihō Railway Tateyama Line (65 minutes). (Note: Toyama Station is the main station with the Shinkansen hub, while Dentetsu Toyama is the station next to the main station with local lines that go through the towns of Funahashi, Kamiichi, and Tateyama). From Tateyama Station, take the Tateyama Cable Car to Bijodaira Station (7 minutes). From there, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route bus will take you to the 2450m high Murodō Station (50 minutes). Thus, the whole trip from Toyama Station with time for purchasing tickets and waiting for transportation totals about 3 hours. During summer, shuttle buses between Toyama and Murodō are also available.

A 2-hour climb to the Tateyama summit takes you to the breathtaking sight of the esteemed Japanese Alps. From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji on a fine day. Note that climbers should wear warm clothes even in the summer, as well as heavy duty shoes for climbing. Weather can change suddenly on the mountains, so visitors are also advised to bring ponchos in case of rain. UV light is strong on the mountain even on cloudy days, so be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, etc., and it is advisable to wear long-sleeves.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Map inspection service" (in Japanese). Geospatial Information Authority of Japan,(高山-立山-剱岳). Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#15/36.575910/137.619592/&base=std&ls=std&disp=1&vs=c1j0l0u0f0
  3. ↑ http://police.pref.toyama.jp/cms_sec_police/6112/kj00016326.html
  4. ↑ "Chūbu-Sangaku National Park". Ministry of the Environment (Japan). Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  5. ↑ http://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MOUNTAIN/mountain.html
  6. ↑ "Tate-yama". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
  7. ↑ Mountain and plateau map of Mount Tsurugi and Tateyama (in Japanese). Shobunsha Publications,ISBN 978-4-398-75716-6. 2010.

See also

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