Mount Tsurugi
Japan · Asia
About
Mount Tsurugi (剱岳, Tsurugi-dake) is a mountain located in the eastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at 2,999 m (9,839 ft). It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and is called "the most dangerous mountain" climbable.
Tsurugi has a number of routes which approach world class long routes. It is recognised in Japan as "the" premiere mountaineering peak in winter. Although dangerous, its death toll is a small fraction of those who have died on Japan's much smaller, but more lethal Mount Tanigawa (Tanigawa-dake).
The first modern ascent of Mount Tsurugi was by Yoshitaro Shibasaki and Ikuta Nobu in 1907. However, upon reaching the summit, Ikuta discovered a rusted iron sword and staff. Upon later scientific investigation, the sword dated from the late Nara period to the early Heian period (approximately 800 AD), showing that shugenja had climbed Mount Tsurugi about 1,200 years ago.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.