Mt. Nasu

Nasudake (那須岳) is three hours north of Tokyo and one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. Of Nasu's five peaks, Chausu-dake, Asahi-dake and Sanbonyari-dake are the most popular. Chausu is an active volcano with a ropeway to the top, and Sanbonyari-dake is the highest peak.

The name Sanbonyari evokes images of three sharp spires, but the summit is quite round. The origin of the name comes from the fact that three regions meet there (Shimotsuke, Iwaki, and Iwashiro). In feudal times, they were domains of three daimyos, and on May 5th every year, representatives of each clan would climb to the top and put a spear in the ground and confirm the boundaries.

The greater Nasu Kogen, or highland, is excellent for escaping Japan's summer heat and offers many attractions. In addition, there's beautiful cycling in the area, and it can be more efficient than driving at times of the year when the area suffers from traffic congestion.