Mt. Ishizuchi-yama石鎚山

A religious location where Mt. Ishizuchi-yama exists, as well as Ishizuchi-jinja Shrine. Many religious ceremonies are celebrated.

Located in the eastern part of Ehime, Mt. Ishizuchi-yama and its surrounding area have been designated Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park. Because of its sharp and domineering rocky mass, the mountain has been long worshiped as a sacred mountain. Believers have climbed the mountain for generations to prove their faith so Mt. Ishizuchi-yama has been made accessible to all, although rugged paths lead up to Mt. Tengu-dake, 1,982 meters above sea level, and Mt. Mi-sen, where Ishizuchi-jinja Shrine stands at the peak.

There are two paths to the top of Mt. Ishizuchi-yama: the Omote-Sando (front approach to the shrine) course and the Tsuchi-goya Hut course. The former is an ordinary path leading to the peak from the front. The latter route allows you to climb easily while enjoying the surrounding scenery. About a 30-minute climb along the mountain driveway—Ishizuchi Sky Line—takes you to the Tsuchi-goya Hut, from where you can enjoy walking along the ridge to the peak. The Ishizuchi Sky Line is a sightseeing road opened in 1970, and the magnificent sight of Mt. Tengu-dake that suddenly appears when you leave the Kanmuri-dake Tunnel en route is worth seeing.

Every summer, believers climb the mountain in a display of faith called "O-yama-biraki" (opening of the mountain to climbers). It is a valiant event where believers clad in white climb to the top of the mountain with the image of the deity that belongs to the shrine on their shoulders. Please note that yearly, on 1 July only, women are not permitted to climb the mountain due to an old local practice that still survives.