Hiking Destinations for Flowering Mountains

Flowers first begin to bloom in the mountains in early spring when the air is still quite cold. Dogtooth violets, pheasant eye’s, and other spring ephemerals that announce the arrival of spring can be seen in the hills and lower mountains. Others such as plum blossoms and wintersweet come into bloom around February.

In April, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. Mountains near populated areas such as Mt. Takao and the Tanzawa mountain range are a great way to casually enjoy wild cherry blossoms.

Starting in May and early summer, the azaleas come into bloom. Azalea habitats such as the Kuju Mountain Range offer hikers the sight of entire mountainsides carpeted in their colorful blooms.

Miyamakirishima (the Kyushu Azaleas)
in the Kuju Mountain Range

Alpine flowers, which come in an impressive variety of colors, begin to bloom in the Yatsugatake Mountains and the Japanese Alps starting from late June. Try selecting one of the many courses popular for their fields of alpine flowers, such as Mt. Hakuba, the Karasawa Cirque, or Mt. Sugoroku.

An Aleutian avens colony
at the Karasawa Cirque

Wetlands such as Oze and Mt. Hakkoda offer up colonies of the nikkokisuge (Nikko day lily) and other wetland flowers.

There are species such as Hayachineusuyukiso (Leontopodium hayachinense) of Mt. Hayachine and Kitadakeso (Callianthemum hondoense) of Mt. Kitadake that can only be seen in a certain place during certain time of year.

Hayachineusuyukiso
(Leontopodium hayachinense)

Flowers in the mountains are their most beautiful for a very short time. The best time to see them is during the two weeks or so after they bloom, though this depends on their location and elevation of the mountain.

“Hiking Destinations for Flowering Mountains” featured on this site are as listed below.

• Mt. Asahi Beginning at Sugatami-daira (Round Trip) Use the ropeway to help you hike Hokkaido's highest peak.
• Round Trip Hike to Mt. Hayachine via the Odakoshi Trail Hike along a short trail to a mountain peak famed for its flowers.
• Mt. Chokai: Round Trip from Hokotate A Splendid Solitary Peak and its Ethereal Mountain Lake.
• Traverse of Mt. Hakkoda from Ropeway to Sukayu Onsen (hot spring) Descend from the gently sloping summit towards the wetland.
• Ozegahara From Numayama Pass to Hatomachi Pass A full traverse of a stunning high moor.
• Tanzawa, Mt. Hinokiboramaru Round trip via the Tsutsuji Shindo Trail A popular Nishi Tanzawa peak with plenty of flowers along the way.
• Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Hakusan; Round Trip from the Kanko Shindo Route One of Japan’s three sacred mountains, also famed for its alpine flora.
• Japan’s Own Long Trail: Shin-etsu Trail Hike on the ridgeline and Satoyama surrounded by the virgin beech forest.
• Traverse of Mt. Hiuchi and Mt. Myoko from Mt. Sasagamine Traversing route with a variety of natural features including wetlands, ponds and rock ridges.
• The Hakuba Sanzan (Hakuba three peaks) hike from Sarukura Climb the Hakuba Daisekkei snow patch and descend into a mountainside hot spring.
• The Karasawa Cirque, round trip from Kamikochi One of Japan’s great glacial cirque, in the heart of the Hotaka peaks.
• Mt. Sugoroku, Mt. Mitsumata-renge, Mt. Kasagadake (Round Trip) A scenic tour of the solitary southwestern peaks of the Northern Japanese Alps.
• Mt. Kiso-Komagatake Round Trip from Senjojiki Cirque This course uses ropeways to help you climb the tallest mountain in the Central Japanese Alps.
• Mt. Kitadake Loop from Hirogawara This loop course of Japan’s 2nd highest mountain offers plenty of variety.
• A Loop Course to Mt. Ibuki from Sky Terrace Explore a mountain famed for its flowers at your leisure along an easy walking path.
• Kuju Mountain Range: Bohgatsuru, Mt. Daisen, and Mt. Hiji-dake Circuit The Best Wetland and Mountain Views in the Kuju Mountain Range.