Japan's 100 Famous Mountains (Nihon Hyakumeizan): What They Are and the Full List of 100 Peaks

What Are the Nihon Hyakumeizan?

The Nihon Hyakumeizan ("100 Famous Mountains of Japan") are 100 mountains chosen by the mountaineer and writer Kyūya Fukada and published as a book by Shinchōsha in July 1964. The book began as a series in the magazine Yama to Kōgen, which ran from 1959 for four years and two months (Yama-kei Online).

Fukada gave three criteria for his choices (Yama-kei Online):

1. Character (hinkaku): something that strikes people, "whether severity, strength, or beauty"
2. History: a mountain with shrines or small sanctuaries, which "has had a deep connection with people since long ago"
3. Individuality: something unique that only that mountain has

He also added a supplementary condition of about 1,500 m or higher. The exceptions are Mt. Tsukuba (877 m) and Mt. Kaimon (924 m). Fukada chose only mountains he had climbed himself.

Key Points

• Chosen by: Kyūya Fukada (book published 1964)
• Number of peaks: 100
• Elevation range: 877 m (Mt. Tsukuba) to 3,776 m (Mt. Fuji)
• Distribution: from Hokkaido to Kagoshima (Yakushima)
• 3,000 m or higher: 13 peaks by the elevations in this site's list

By Area

The areas below follow this site's list (peak counts are totals from the list).

Difficulty Guide

The stars are this site's own rough guide, not an official grading.

Notes by Area

Hokkaido

Daisetsu (Asahi-dake, 2,291 m) is Hokkaido's highest peak, and a ropeway takes you up into the alpine zone. Poroshiri (2,052 m) is known as a hard peak that requires wading across rivers. Rishiri (1,721 m) rises alone on Rishiri Island. In Hokkaido, flights plus a rental car are often the practical option, and the mountains are brown bear country. See bear safety in Japan.

Tohoku

Many Tohoku peaks are volcanoes. Chōkai (2,236 m) is also called "Dewa Fuji" and overlooks the Sea of Japan. Iide (2,105 m) keeps large snowfields, and a traverse needs fitness and experience. Snow can remain into the rainy season (June–July), and some routes need crampons and an ice axe.

Jōshin'etsu & Kanto

This is the densest area for Hyakumeizan, with peaks such as Tanigawa (1,977 m) and Nikkō-Shirane (2,578 m). Access from Tokyo is relatively good and many are day hikes; see Hyakumeizan day trips from Tokyo. Guides on this site: Mt. Asama, Mt. Naeba, Mt. Shibutsu, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Sukai.

Northern Alps

Rocky peaks such as Yarigatake (3,180 m), Hotaka (Okuhotaka 3,190 m), Tsurugi (2,999 m), and Tateyama (3,015 m) are concentrated here. Even in summer, many routes include rocky sections and chains, and most peaks suit intermediate to advanced hikers. There are many mountain huts, which makes traverses easier to plan.

Chubu & Tokai

This area includes Ontake (3,067 m), Yatsugatake (Akadake 2,899 m), Kiso-Komagatake (2,956 m), and Mt. Fuji (3,776 m). Ontake is an active volcano, and its alert level and entry restrictions change, so always check the latest volcano information. Kiso-Komagatake has a ropeway into the alpine zone. For Mt. Fuji, see the Mt. Fuji beginner's guide and Mt. Fuji climbing rules. The 2026 climbing season has ended.

Southern Alps

Here are Kita-dake (3,193 m), Kai-Komagatake (2,967 m), Senjōgatake (3,033 m), Hōō, and Shiomi (3,047 m), among others. Kita-dake is Japan's second-highest peak after Fuji. Traverses involve long days and are usually combined with hut stays.

Kinki, Chugoku & Shikoku

This includes Haku (2,702 m), Daisen, Ishizuchi (1,982 m), and Ōmine (1,915 m). According to Tottori Prefecture, the highest point of Daisen is Kengamine (1,729 m), but the ridge path there has collapsed badly and the prefecture asks hikers not to use it; the second peak, Misen (1,709 m), is generally treated as the summit.

Kyushu & Yakushima

The six peaks are Kujū (1,791 m), Sobo (1,756 m), Aso (1,592 m), Kirishima (Karakunidake 1,700 m), Miyanoura (1,936 m), and Kaimon (924 m). Miyanoura is the highest peak on Yakushima, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

Thinking About Completing All 100

Climbing all 100 is a goal for many hikers. The time and cost depend heavily on where you live, how much time off you have, and whether you use huts. We could not find official statistics, so this site does not give estimates of years or money.

Some ways to approach it:

1. Start with mountains you can day-hike from home
2. Group mountains that need hut stays, and far-off ones such as Hokkaido or Yakushima, into longer holidays
3. For volcanoes (Ontake, Asama, Kusatsu-Shirane, and others) and the snow season, check the latest restrictions and weather

The Full List of 100

Elevations, areas, and difficulty stars are this site's own figures. Names are given without "Mt."; the Japanese names are included for searching maps and local signs. No. 59 Kurodake is also widely known as Suishō-dake.

Summary

The Nihon Hyakumeizan cover Japan's varied mountain landscapes, from Rishiri in the far north to Miyanoura on Yakushima. For a first Hyakumeizan, peaks with few stars on this site's list, such as Tsukuba, Hachimantai, and Utsukushigahara, are easy to plan. When you have built up fitness, move on to Yarigatake and Hotaka in the Northern Alps, or Kita-dake (3,193 m, second only to Fuji) in the Southern Alps.

References

• Yama-kei Online — How the Nihon Hyakumeizan and Nihon 200 Meizan were written (Japanese) (criteria, publication)
• Tottori Prefecture — Daisen climbing information (Japanese) (Kengamine and Misen elevations, collapsed ridge path)
• This site's mountain list (elevation, area, and difficulty are this site's figures)