Mount Tsurugi

Attraction

Last updated September 07, 2026 Reviewed by the Japan Voyage editorial team

Prefecture

Tokushima

Type

Attraction

N/A

0 reviews

¥1,900

Entry Fee

Restaurant

About This Destination

The second-highest peak in Shikoku at 1,955 meters, steeped in mythology as the hiding place of a legendary imperial sword, with a lift through ancient virgin forest.

At 1,955 metres, Tsurugi is the second highest mountain in western Japan and by far the easiest of that class to climb, because a chairlift covers the middle 330 metres of the climb in fifteen minutes and leaves you a forty-minute walk to the summit. That is the whole climb. People do it in trainers, and on an autumn weekend a great many of them do.

The top is not a peak but a plateau of dwarf bamboo, and the last section crosses it on a raised boardwalk built to stop several hundred thousand pairs of feet from wearing the ground grass away. From up there the view runs to Ishizuchi in Ehime, the highest mountain in western Japan, and on a clear day to the Inland Sea beyond.

The name means sword. A small shrine stands at the summit, and the legend attached to it is that the sword of the child emperor Antoku, drowned with the Heike fleet in 1185, was carried up here and buried. There are stranger theories in circulation about what else the mountain is supposed to be hiding, and the local tourist material enjoys them.

A lodge near the summit serves food and takes overnight guests, which is how to see sunrise from the top.

The drive up is on a narrow mountain road with passing places and takes a while from anywhere. The reward for coming this far is the Iya valley below, with its vine suspension bridge and gorge, and the two together make a proper two-day trip rather than a detour. Autumn colour peaks in the second half of October, earlier than the lowlands.

Location

Prefecture: Tokushima

Address: Miyoshi, Tokushima, Japan

Nearest Station: Oboke Station

Best time to visit: Late spring to autumn for hiking the ridge; the chairlift and trails are at their best with fresh green in June and golden grass in October

View on Google Maps

Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: Mountain lodges near the summit serve warm udon and simple meals. The Miyoshi area is known for Iya soba (buckwheat noodles) and dekomawashi (skewered tofu and potato grilled over charcoal).

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Mount Tsurugi?

Travelling by car is strongly recommended; the winding mountain roads through Iya Valley demand 90 minutes from Oboke Station. From JR Tokushima City: 2.5 hours via Route 438. The Minokoshi base station has free parking. Public transport is limited: from Oboke Station, just 1–2 buses per day operate seasonally to Minokoshi (90 min, ¥2,200). The chairlift to mid-mountain (Nishijima Station, 1,720m) costs ¥1,900 round-trip and runs 9:00–16:30 (April–November).

How long does the hike take from the chairlift?

From Nishijima Station (chairlift top, 1,720m), 40–50 minutes to the summit (1,955m) on a well-maintained path through ancient forest. The 'Tsurugi summit course' is the easiest at 235m elevation gain on a wide path. The 'Daikenzan course' (50 min) passes more forest and a small shrine. Roundtrip from Nishijima: 90 min minimum. Total day-trip from Minokoshi (chairlift down): 3 hours. Many visitors stay at the summit lodge to catch sunrise.

What's the legend behind Mount Tsurugi?

After the Heike clan was defeated by the Genji at the 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura, surviving members supposedly hid the imperial sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan) on this mountain, hence the name 'Sword Mountain.' Other legends place the Lost Ark of the Covenant here, drawing some pilgrims today. The summit stone formation 'Hokyozuka' is said to mark the burial site. Whether you believe the myths or not, the ancient atmosphere of the virgin forest and treeless summit feels otherworldly.

When is the best time to climb Mount Tsurugi?

Early October for golden summit grasslands and autumn maple foliage on the slopes, one of Shikoku's best autumn alpine views. Late April–early June brings new green and rare alpine flowers (mountain lilies). July–August offer cool relief from lowland heat (15–20°C at summit) but afternoon thunderstorms common. Avoid winter (heavy snow, lift closed). The chair lift operates April–November only; winter requires full snow gear and shouldn't be attempted by casual hikers.