Mount Myōgi

Mount Myōgi is composed of many different peaks: Hakuun-zan (白雲山), Kondō-san (金洞山), Kinkei-san (金鶏山), Sōma-dake (相馬岳), Mitake-san (御岳山), Chōsunokashira (丁須ノ頭), Yakyu-san (谷急山) and others. Mount Myōgi 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 from Shimonita, the mount is referred to as Nakano-take (中之嶽). Among the many peaks of Mount Myōgi, 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, Myōgi Shrine (妙義神社), is located on Hakuun-zan, on the east slope of Mount Myōgi. During Edo period, people thought that the god of the mountain protected the population from fire and lightnings. Mount Fuji is located south of Mount Myōgi.

Mount Myōgi 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 Myōgi is designated as one of Japan's Three Great Rare Scenic Beauties and was selected as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan.

The landscape being very rugged, many severe accidents and deaths have been reported. As a consequence, Tomioka city introduced courses for beginners, intermediates and experienced hikers. In January 2010, Gunma prefecture officials, local authorities, the police, firemen and the hiking club discussed 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.

• During sport festivals, many primary schools of the prefecture name their teams "Team Myogi", "Team Haruna" or "Team Asama"
• 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.

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  Panorama view
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  View from Sakura-no-sato
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  View from the Myōgi Road Station
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  View from Myōgi Furusato Art Museum
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  Entrance to Myōgi Jinja

• Myōgi
• List of Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan (Gunma)

• Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin Co.,Ltd. Tokyo 1990, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1

• Tourist Guide of Gunma Prefecture
• ANA Japan Travel Planner
• Japan National Travel Organization