The Mt. Nasu trek: Mt. Chausu, Mt. Asahi and Mt. Sanbonyari

From the ropeway, turn right at the Ushigakubi fork in the trail, and hike for approximately 40 minutes up the rocky, sloping trail to the Mt. Chausu summit. Here, you will find a small shrine and it is possible to walk around the peak along what was once a volcanic crater wall.

Descend from the peak along the trail that leads to Mineno-chaya-ato. This shelter is a rest station, which does not sell goods or services. Take the section of path that bypasses the next peak and you will be hiking along a high, rocky segment of the ridge. Take care when traversing the exposed areas with chains lining the trail. When you come to a fork in the path with a bench beside it, take the path to the summit of Mt. Asahi and back. Once you’ve hiked back to the fork, turn right toward the eastern edge of Kumamisone Ridge and continue. This area boasts beautifully colored foliage in the autumn. Cross over the 1900-meter peak, then descend the wooden steps and follow a boardwalk through the Shimizu-daira wetlands. In early summer, you can see Japanese alpine cherry blossoms and rhododendrons in bloom.

Follow the gently sloping path from Shimizu-daira and, when you reach the fork in the path, hike to Mt. Sanbonyari and back. Hike along the path through bamboo trees and Japanese dwarf pines until you reach the flat, level terrain of Mt. Sanbonyari’s summit.

From the next fork in the path, follow the gentle trail through the bamboo groves and woods of Okura-one Ridge (Ohkura-one). Your journey ends at the Nasu Gondola Sancho Station where, in early summer, you can see some 30,000 rhododendrons in bloom.