Park or nature areaUsable guide

Mount Ishizuchi

Highest mountain in Shikoku

Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Mount Ishizuchi (石鎚山 Ishizuchi-san, 1982 m) is the tallest mountain on Shikoku. The name means Stone Hammer, a suitably awe-inspiring moniker for one of Japan's 7 Holy Mountains.

Where to eat, drink and stay

Sleep2 places

Chōjō-sansōA night in fairly spartan accommodation with two meals will cost ¥8500
頂上山荘
The name is Japanese for "summit mountain lodge", an apt description of this mountain hut run by the temple. It's open from early May to early November. You will be expected to take all your garbage down with you.
Price
A night in fairly spartan accommodation with two meals will cost ¥8500
Phone
+81 897-55-4168
Website
sanso.ishizuchisan.jp
Ishizuchi Fureai-no-SatoComfortable and well-equipped cabins from ¥2920 for 2; basic rooms starting at ¥1170 per head, and riverside camping space (on gravel) at ¥200/person
石鎚ふれあいの里
An excellent place to stay, 10 minutes down the road with a bus stop nearby. There is a little restaurant on grounds, bathing facilities with an ofuro (public bath), and barbecue pits. Note that this is really geared for larger groups, so call ahead to reserve and make sure the place is open (and not filled with grade schoolers).
Price
Comfortable and well-equipped cabins from ¥2920 for 2; basic rooms starting at ¥1170 per head, and riverside camping space (on gravel) at ¥200/person
Address
1-25-1 Nakaoku, Saijo-shi
Phone
+81 897-59-0203
Website
oofuki.sunnyday.jp

Getting there and around

Getting there

The closest train station is Iyo-Saijō on the JR Yosan Line from Matsuyama to Takamatsu. From Okayama, the Shiokaze Limited Express train makes hourly runs to Iyo-Saijō station (1 hour 50 minutes; ¥4940).

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Getting around

Nearly everybody takes the Ishizuchi Tōzan Ropeway (石鎚登山ロープウェイ) halfway up, although it's fairly steeply priced at ¥1000/1900 one-way/return. Make sure to start climbing early enough as the last ropeway returns at 18:00.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Matsuyama Airport

Matsuyama · International · MYJ

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandIshizuchi is believed to have been an active volcano about 15 million years ago. Designated as a national park in 1955, it has become a reserve for soaring falcons and sneaky dormice alike.

Get inThe closest train station is Iyo-Saijō on the JR Yosan Line from Matsuyama to Takamatsu. From Okayama, the Shiokaze Limited Express train makes hourly runs to Iyo-Saijō station (1 hour 50 minutes; ¥4940).

Get aroundNearly everybody takes the Ishizuchi Tōzan Ropeway (石鎚登山ロープウェイ) halfway up, although it's fairly steeply priced at ¥1000/1900 one-way/return. Make sure to start climbing early enough as the last ropeway returns at 18:00.

SeeFor many visitors, the final destination is Jōju (成就), the site of the main shrine grounds — a classically elegant and austere complex notable mostly for the variety of stone hammers on display here and there.

DoThe thing to do in these parts is, naturally, to climb up to the summit. Figure on 3 hours for the ascent and at least 2 hours for the descent.

Buy, eat & drinkThere is a small group of souvenir shops and restaurants outside the Joju shrines. Most are open 07:00-19:00. Figure about ¥1000 for a small meal or ¥200 for a bowl of miso.

Sleep

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mount Ishizuchi" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mount Ishizuchi", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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