Mount Myōgi

Mount Myōgi (妙義山, Myōgi-san) is one of the major mountains in the Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Well known for its rocks weathered into fantastic forms, this famous peak is ranked among Japan's three most noted places of rugged beauty. There are many hiking courses, and when the foliage changes color there are splendid views to be seen.1 The highest point is the pick of the Mt. Soumadake (相馬岳) reaching 1.103 m.

Mount Myōgi
Mount Myōgi in the summer
Highest point
Elevation1,103 m (3,619 ft)
Coordinates36°17′55″N 138°44′56″E 
Geography
Mount Myōgi

Mount Myōgi, along with Mount Akagi and Mount Haruna, is one of the "Three Mountains of Jōmō". (Jōmō is an old name for Gunma.)

Overview

Mount Myogi is composed of many different mountains : Hakuun-zan (白雲山), Kondou-san (金洞山), Kinkei-san (金鶏山), Souma-dake (相馬岳), Mitake-san (御岳山), Chousunokashira (丁須ノ頭), Yakyu-san (谷急山) and others. Mount Myogi is generally separated in its south side (known as the front side) and its north side (known as the back side). For instance, when looking at Kinkei-san (金鶏山) from Shimonita, the mount is referred to as Nakano-take (中之嶽). Among the many mountains of Mount Myogi, which is already considered having a picturesque form, the landscape of Nakano-take is very particular. Along the slope of the mountain, there is a group of rocks with unique names (ロウソク岩 "candle rock" , 大砲岩 "cannon rock", 筆頭岩 "head of the family rock", ユルギ岩 "shaky rock", 虚無僧岩 "nihilist monk rock") that make it praised as one of the most beautiful mountains over Japan. The starting point of the hiking course going through those rocks is Nakano-dake shrine (中之嶽神社). The most famous temple of the divine mountain, Myogi shrine (妙義神社), is located on Hakuun-zan, on the east slope of Mount Myogi. During Edo period, people thought that the god of the mountain protected the population from fire and lightnings. Mount Fuji is located north-east of Mount Myogi.

Mount Myogi is made out of volcanic rocks (dacite, tuff) and conglomerates. It was formed 3 million years ago, at the same time as Mount Arafune located south-west, after a volcanic caldera. Later, the soft sedimentary layer is thought to have been eroded which gave the mountain its current rugged appearance. Mount Myogi is designated as one of Japan's Three Great Rare Scenic Beauties and was selected as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan.

Hiking

The landscape being very rugged, many severe accidents and deaths were reported. As a consequence, Tomioka city imagined courses for beginners, intermediates and experienced hikers.

In January 2010, Gunma prefecture officials, local authorities, the police, firemen and the hiking club discussed over the issue during the "Meeting for the establishment of preventive measures to avoid accidents in Mount Myogi and surrounding mountains". The proposition of the officials to forbid hiking was rejected by the locals who wished to continue hiking. Finally, all participants agreed to increase the number of chains and to improve the quality of the routes.

Use of the name "Myogi" in the prefecture
  • During sport festivals, many primary schools of the prefecture name their teams "Team Myogi", "Team Haruna" and "Team Asama" which refers to the "Three Mountains of Jōmō" (Jōmō is an old name for Gunma.)
  • The three dormitories of Tomioka Silk Mill, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage since 2014, are also named "Myogi Dormitory", "Haruna Dormitory" and "Asama Dormitory"

Mount Myōgi is mentioned in the street racing manga, video game, and anime series Initial D. It is the home course of the racing team called the Myogi Night Kids, and is the setting for three races in the anime and manga.

1900 Massacre

On 7 February 1900 a Japanese man killed seven people at the shrine in Myōgi, Japan. The man grabbed a sword from a policeman, killed the chief priest and three attendants, and then turned against the crowd who had rushed to the scene, murdering three other people, before he himself was killed.[1][2]

See also

References
  1. http:of shocking murders at Yokohama, Los Angeles Times (February 23, 1900)
  2. http:of News from Japan, The Chanute Daily Tribune (February 23, 1900)
  • Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin Co.,Ltd. Tokyo 1990, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1


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