# Mount Amagi

> Not one peak but a range in the middle of the Izu Peninsula, on Japan's list of 100 Famous Mountains. The usual hike is an 8.4 km loop from Amagi Kogen over Banjiro-dake and Banzaburo-dake, at 1,406 m the highest point in Izu, through beech forest and Amagi rhododendrons that flower in May.

- Prefecture: Shizuoka
- Type: Mountain
- Address: Izu, Shizuoka, Japan
- Official site: https://kanko.city.izu.shizuoka.jp/sightseeing/mt-amagi/

There is no summit actually called Amagi. The name covers a worn-down volcano across the middle of the Izu Peninsula, and the peak hikers count for the 100 Famous Mountains list is Banzaburo-dake, 1,406 m, the highest ground in Izu. Most people do the loop that Izu City calls the Amagi Shakunage course: from the Amagi Kogen trailhead up to Banjiro-dake (about 1,300 m), along the ridge through Ishinagitate, where the rhododendrons grow thickest, over Banzaburo-dake and back by the Karesawa junction. It is about 8.4 km, and the city's reference time is roughly five and a half hours; allow six. The forest is beech and Japanese stewartia, mossy and often wet. Amagi is one of the rainiest places in Japan, averaging over 4,500 mm a year, so the trail is muddy and views from the top are hit and miss. Late May is the pull, when the pale pink Amagi rhododendrons open; from March the paths run through tunnels of white-flowered asebi. The city says hikers get lost here often and asks you to start early: by 10:00 from May to July, by 8:00 in winter. Even in May the summit can drop to 5°C.

## FAQ

### How long does the Banjiro-dake and Banzaburo-dake loop take?

Izu City gives about 8.4 km and a reference time of roughly five and a half hours from the Amagi Kogen trailhead and back. With breaks and muddy stretches, six hours is more realistic.

### When do the Amagi rhododendrons flower?

Usually in the second half of May, with some years running into early June. The thickest stands are around Ishinagitate, between Banjiro-dake and Banzaburo-dake.

### Can I get there without a car?

Yes. A Tokai Bus shuttle runs from JR Ito Station to the Amagi Juso Tozanguchi stop at the trailhead, but there are only a few runs a day, so plan your return before you start.

### Is it suitable for beginners?

The climbing is moderate, but the city warns that people often get lost on this course. Start early, carry a map and warm layers, and file a climbing plan before you go.

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Source: Mount Amagi — Japan Voyage