Former Shugendo peak known for its magical ability to make rain fall (hence the name, ‘rain calling mountain’).
Former Shugendo peak known for its magical ability to make rain fall (hence the name, ‘rain calling mountain’).
雨呼山 | あまよばりやま
Amayobari-yama (雨呼山あまよばりやま) is a 906m (2972 ft.) peak in the Murayama region of Yamagata prefecture best climbed from May to mid-November. Amayobari-yama is a level 1 in terms of physical demand, which means it is easy to hike, has an A technical grade, which means it requires little expertise, and you want to allow at least 3 hours for a climb.
Mountain Range
Amayobari-yama
Region
Murayama
Elevation
906m (2972 ft.)
Technical Demand
A (requires little expertise)
Physical Demand
1 (easy to hike)
Trails
Three: 1) Jagaramogara Trail (90 minutes one-way), 2) Mitsuishi Trail (2 hours one-way), 3) Chobo Trail (90 minutes one-way)
Best time to climb
May to mid-November
Day trip possible?
Yes
Minimum Time Required
3 hours
AMAYOBARI-YAMA
Amayobari-yama is historically a mountain for mountain and nature worship. As opposed to the Dewa Sanzan mountains to the west, there was a custom to the east of undertaking training in the austerities at Risshakuji Temple, Amayobari-yama, Uzawa-yama, and Jakushoji Temple called ‘Okuyama-gake’. As such, Amayobari-yama is known as a mysterious place of knowledge that exceeds what is comprehensible by man.
Amayobari-yama is known for its ability to bring water (the name literally means ‘water calling mountain’), and the water that flows from the summit turns into the Nanatsuka-taki Falls. Since ancient times, this has provided water to Tendo City’s Nariujo Region, and thanks to this ability to bring rain, locals have revered the mountain for centuries.
Amayobari-yama is particularly beautiful when the beech forest at the summit is covered in green leaves around May to June.
Leaving from the Jagaramogara carpark, the Jagaramogara trail goes through shinrinyoku (forest bathing) forests and links up with the Murakumo and Amayobari-yama trails before heading to the summit. There are a number of steep parts and the trail can be rather slippery, so due caution is necessary.
Jagaramogara is the name of a 250m by 90m indentation in the middle of Amayobari-yama known for accumulating strong winds, and there are a wide variety of alpine plants that grow because of this.
Starting from the Jagaramura Shinrin Fureai Kojo carpark, the Mitsuishi Trail meets the Amayobari Trail on the way to the summit. There are three huge boulders where the Mitsuishi and Amayobari-yama trails meet. The Amayobari-yama Trail has continuous sharp inclines and can be very slippery. The summit is level and surrounded by a beech forest
The Chobo Trail starts about 3km along the road from the Jagaramura Koryu Centre. The trail utilises the Jogejigoku Trail, Murakumo Trail, and Amayobari-yama Trail before reaching the summit. The Murakumo and Amayobari-yama trails both have steep areas. There is a lookout with a pagoda a little past the carpark from where you can see Maizuru-yama and the south-western part of Tendo City.
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