Hida Mountains
Encyclopedia
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 he used that name. The Kiso
and Akaishi
mountains received the name in the ensuing years.
. It is one of the steepest V-shaped valleys in Japan. The Kurobe Dam
, Japan's largest dam, is an arch dam located in the Kurobe Valley in the central area of the mountains. The western arm of mountains, also known as the Tateyama Peaks (立山連峰 Tateyama Renpō), are dominated by Mount Tsurugi
and Mount Tate
. The eastern arm, known as the Ushiro Tateyama Peaks (後立山連峰 Ushiro Tateyama Renpō), are dominated by Mount Shirouma
and Mount Kashimayari.
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...
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...
which stretches through 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...
, Toyama
Toyama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
and Gifu
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
. William Gowland
William Gowland
William Gowland was an English mining engineer most famous for his archaeological work at Stonehenge and in Japan. He is known in Japan as the "Father of Japanese Archaeology", which is an exaggeration. He was a major founding figure....
coined the phrase "Japanese Alps" during his time in Japan, but he was only referring to the Hida Mountains when he used that name. The Kiso
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 :...
and Akaishi
Akaishi Mountains
is a mountain range in central Honshū, Japan, bordering Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. It is also called the , as it joins with the Hida Mountains and the Kiso Mountains to form the Japanese Alps....
mountains received the name in the ensuing years.
Geography
The layout of the Hida Mountains forms a large Y-shape. The southern peaks are the lower portion of the Y-shape, with the northern peaks forming two parallel bands separated by a deep V-shaped valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
. It is one of the steepest V-shaped valleys in Japan. The Kurobe Dam
Kurobe dam
The or , is a variable-radius arch dam on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture on the island of Honshū, Japan. It supports the 335 MW Kurobe No. 4 Hydropower Plant and is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company. At high, it is the tallest dam in Japan. It was constructed between 1956 and 1963 at...
, Japan's largest dam, is an arch dam located in the Kurobe Valley in the central area of the mountains. The western arm of mountains, also known as the Tateyama Peaks (立山連峰 Tateyama Renpō), are dominated by Mount Tsurugi
Mount Tsurugi (Toyama)
is located in the eastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peak in the Hida Mountains at . It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and is called "the most dangerous mountain" climbable....
and Mount Tate
Mount Tate
is located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's . The climbing season for Mount Tate is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori...
. The eastern arm, known as the Ushiro Tateyama Peaks (後立山連峰 Ushiro Tateyama Renpō), are dominated by Mount Shirouma
Mount Shirouma
is the 26th-tallest mountain in Japan. At 2,932 meters, it is the highest peak in the Hakuba section of the Hida Mountains, and one of the top "to climb" peaks for Japanese hikers. It is also one of the few peaks in Japan with year-round snow fields , in the .Located in the Chūbu-Sangaku National...
and Mount Kashimayari.
Major peaks
- Mount ShiroumaMount Shiroumais the 26th-tallest mountain in Japan. At 2,932 meters, it is the highest peak in the Hakuba section of the Hida Mountains, and one of the top "to climb" peaks for Japanese hikers. It is also one of the few peaks in Japan with year-round snow fields , in the .Located in the Chūbu-Sangaku National...
, 2932 m (9,619 ft) - Mount Kashimayari, 2889 m (9,478 ft)
- Mount TateMount Tateis located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's . The climbing season for Mount Tate is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori...
, 3015 m (9,892 ft) - Mount TsubakuroMount Tsubakurois a high mountain in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains in Nagano Prefecture.It was specified for Chūbu-Sangaku National Park on December 4, 1934.- Mountain hut :...
, 2763 m (9,065 ft) - Mount TsurugiMount Tsurugi (Toyama)is located in the eastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peak in the Hida Mountains at . It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and is called "the most dangerous mountain" climbable....
, 2999 m (9,839 ft) - Mount Noguchigoro, 2924 m (9,593 ft)
- Mount YariMount Yariis one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The high peak lies in the southern part of the Hida Mountains of Japan, on the border of Ōmachi and Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture...
, 3180 m (10,433 ft) - Mount HotakaMount Hotaka, also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching a height of . It is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture...
, 3190 m (10,466 ft) - Mount NorikuraMount Norikurais a potentially active volcano located on the borders of Gifu and Nagano prefectures in Japan. It is part of the Hida Mountains and is listed among the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains and the New 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.-Outline:...
, 3026 m (9,928 ft)
Gallery
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| South half part of Hida Mountains |
Mount Tateyama | Mount Yari and Mount Hotaka | South half part seen from Mount Kurai |
See also
- Japanese AlpsJapanese AlpsThe 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...
- Kiso MountainsKiso Mountainsare 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) - Akaishi MountainsAkaishi Mountainsis a mountain range in central Honshū, Japan, bordering Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. It is also called the , as it joins with the Hida Mountains and the Kiso Mountains to form the Japanese Alps....
(Southern Alps)
- Kiso Mountains
- List of mountains in Japan
- 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
- Chūbu-Sangaku National ParkChubu-Sangaku National Parkis a national park in the Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan. It was established around the Hida Mountains and encompasses parts of Nagano, Gifu, Toyama and Niigata prefectures...