Akaishi Mountains
Encyclopedia
is a mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...

 in central Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, bordering Nagano
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

, Yamanashi
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...

 and Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...

 prefectures. It is also called the , as it joins with the Hida Mountains
Hida Mountains
The , or , is a Japanese mountain range which stretches through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture. William Gowland coined the phrase "Japanese Alps" during his time in Japan, but he was only referring to the Hida Mountains when...

 ("Northern Alps") and the Kiso Mountains
Kiso Mountains
are a mountain range in Nagano and Gifu prefectures in Japan. They are also called the and they combine with the Hida Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains to form a group collectively known as the Japanese Alps.- Outline :...

 ("Central Alps") to form the Japanese Alps
Japanese Alps
The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist...

.

Origin of the name

There are a lot of red stones (赤石 Aka-Ishi) around the Akaishi River , a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Ōi River
Oi River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Geography:The Ōi River flows from the Akaishi Mountains, the branch of the Japanese Southern Alps which form the border between Shizuoka, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. These mountains, with peaks ranging from 2000–3000 meters, are characterized by...

 in the southern part of Southern Alps. Then it was said that the mountain of red stone came to be called Mount Akaishi
Mount Akaishi
, at 3,120 m , is the 7th tallest peak in Japan and the 3rd tallest peak in the Akaishi Mountains or Southern Alps in northern Honshū, Japan. It is located in the Minami Alps National Park...

. The mountain represents the mountain range and the name Akaishi is used for the whole range mountain range, Akaishi Mountains.

Major peaks

Almost all major peaks of the Akaishi Mountains are in Minami Alps National Park
Minami Alps National Park
is a national park in the Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan.The Minami Alps National Park was established on June 1, 1964. It extends along the border of Shizuoka, Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures for a length of , and a maximum width of for a total area of...

 that was established on June 1, 1964.
The range is the source of two rivers, Ōi River
Oi River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Geography:The Ōi River flows from the Akaishi Mountains, the branch of the Japanese Southern Alps which form the border between Shizuoka, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. These mountains, with peaks ranging from 2000–3000 meters, are characterized by...

 and Tenryū River
Tenryu River
The is a river arising from Lake Suwa in Okaya, Nagano Prefecture, grazing Aichi Prefecture and flowing through western Shizuoka Prefecture in central Honshū, Japan. With a length of , it is Japan's ninth longest river.-Geography:...

, which flow to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

.
Image Mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...

Height
Height
Height is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...

Note
Mt. Hōō
Mount Hōō
is located in the eastern portion of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Because the mountain has three peaks, it is also called Hōō Sanzan . It is in Minami Alps National Park and is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.-Outline:...

2840 m (9,318 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Nokogiri
Mount Nokogiri (Akaishi)
is a mountain located in the Akaishi Mountains on the border between, Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures in Japan.- Outline :This area is in Minami Alps National Park that was established on June 1, 1964. This mountain is also one of the "200 Famous Japanese Mountains". There is no general mountain...

2685 m (8,809 ft) 200 Famous
Mt. Kaikoma
Mount Kaikoma
is a mountain located on the border between Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Ina, Nagano Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is tall and part of the Akaishi Mountains...

2967 m (9,734 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Senjō
Mount Senjo
is a high mountain on the border of Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, and Ina, Nagano, in Japan. This mountain is one of the major peaks of the Akaishi Mountains, and is one of the most popular peaks in the range. This mountain is also one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.- Outline :Mount Senjō is one...

3033 m (9,951 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Kita
Mount Kita
is the second tallest mountain in Japan, after Mount Fuji, and is known as "the Leader of the Southern Alps". It is included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. It is situated in the city of Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan...

3193 m (10,476 ft) the highest mountain
in Akaishi Mountains
100 Famous
Mt. Aino
Mount Aino
, or Ainodake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. At , its peak lies in the Akaishi Mountains of Japan on the border of Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture...

3189 m (10,463 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Nōtori
Mount Notori
, or Nōtoridake, is one of the major peaks in the Akaishi Mountains, along with Mount Kita and Mount Aino. The peak lies to the south of the other mountains, spanning the town of Hayakawa in Yamanashi Prefecture and Aoi-ku in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.- Geography :The top of...

3026 m (9,928 ft) 200 Famous
Mt. Shiomi
Mount Shiomi
is a mountain located in the centre of the Southern Alps on the border of Shizuoka and Nagano Prefectures. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. At 3,047 tall, it is the 16th tallest mountains and hills of Japan...

3047 m (9,997 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Warusawa
Mount Warusawa
, also , is a mountain located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It has a height of . It is located in the southern part of the Akaishi Mountains, which are known as the "Southern Alps"...

3141 m (10,305 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Akaishi
Mount Akaishi
, at 3,120 m , is the 7th tallest peak in Japan and the 3rd tallest peak in the Akaishi Mountains or Southern Alps in northern Honshū, Japan. It is located in the Minami Alps National Park...

3120 m (10,236 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Hijiri
Mount Hijiri
is a mountain located in the Akaishi Mountains in both Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture and Iida, Nagano Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is tall and part of the Akaishi Mountains. It is the mountain in Minami Alps National Park located in the south most...

3013 m (9,885 ft) 100 Famous
Mt. Tekari
Mount Tekari
is part of the Akaishi Mountains on the border of Shizuoka and Nagano prefectures in Japan. It is the southernmost mountain in the Akaishi Mountains and the southernmost mountain over in Japan.-Outline:...

2591 m (8,501 ft) 100 Famous

Panorama

Flora and fauna

Alpine plants, such as Siberian Dwarf Pine
Siberian Dwarf Pine
Pinus pumila is a native to northeastern Asia, including the islands of Japan. This shrubby pine ranges from 1–3 m in height, exceptionally up to 5 m, but may have individual branches that extend farther along the ground in length...

 can be seen above the tree line. Rock Ptarmigan and Spotted Nutcracker
Spotted Nutcracker
The Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Nutcracker, or just Nutcracker, is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian Jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks...

 also live in the alpine zone. Japanese Serow
Japanese Serow
The Japanese serow , known in Japanese as the , is a goat-antelope found in dense woodland on Honshū, Japan....

 and Sika Deer
Sika Deer
The Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...

 live in the forest belt on the mountain slopes. is endemic to Mount Kita
Mount Kita
is the second tallest mountain in Japan, after Mount Fuji, and is known as "the Leader of the Southern Alps". It is included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. It is situated in the city of Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan...

.
Rock Ptarmigan  Spotted
Nutcracker
Spotted Nutcracker
The Spotted Nutcracker, Eurasian Nutcracker, or just Nutcracker, is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian Jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks...

 
Japanese Serow
Japanese Serow
The Japanese serow , known in Japanese as the , is a goat-antelope found in dense woodland on Honshū, Japan....

 
Siberian
Dwarf Pine
Siberian Dwarf Pine
Pinus pumila is a native to northeastern Asia, including the islands of Japan. This shrubby pine ranges from 1–3 m in height, exceptionally up to 5 m, but may have individual branches that extend farther along the ground in length...

 
Callianthemum
hondoense
Polemonium
caeruleum

Walter Weston in Japanese Alps

Englishman Walter Weston
Walter Weston
The Reverend Walter Weston , was an English clergyman, missionary, and mountaineer.-Background and early life:...

 introduced the Western world to the Japanese Alps in his book Mountaineering and Exploring in the Japanese Alps. During his visits to Japan, he climbed Akaishi Mountains. Several monuments in his memory have been set up in several places in the Japanese Alps
Japanese Alps
The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist...

.

He climbed the following peaks:
  • 1892 Mount Akaishi - The first non-Japanese to climb this mountain
  • 1902 Mount Kita
  • 1903 Mount Kaikoma
  • 1904 Mount Hōō and Mount Senjō

See also

  • Japanese Alps
    Japanese Alps
    The is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston , an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist...

    • Hida Mountains
      Hida Mountains
      The , or , is a Japanese mountain range which stretches through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture. William Gowland coined the phrase "Japanese Alps" during his time in Japan, but he was only referring to the Hida Mountains when...

       (Northern Alps)
    • Kiso Mountains
      Kiso Mountains
      are a mountain range in Nagano and Gifu prefectures in Japan. They are also called the and they combine with the Hida Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains to form a group collectively known as the Japanese Alps.- Outline :...

       (Central Alps)
  • Minami Alps National Park
    Minami Alps National Park
    is a national park in the Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan.The Minami Alps National Park was established on June 1, 1964. It extends along the border of Shizuoka, Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures for a length of , and a maximum width of for a total area of...

  • 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
  • Walter Weston
    Walter Weston
    The Reverend Walter Weston , was an English clergyman, missionary, and mountaineer.-Background and early life:...


External links

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