Located on the only inhabited island in Yamagata Prefecture, Tobishima Island, Kashiwagi-yama is a mountain that formed from a mass of lava and ash after a volcanic eruption. At 58m, Kashiwagi-yama is the lowest peak on the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata list, but since it is located right next to the ocean it’s a great spot to check out both, and from the lookout along the footpath you can see Oshakujima Island where a dragon god is said to reside, and the Eboshi islands.

The coastal path along the southern edge of Kashiwagi-yama is home to rocks said to be in the shape of a mammoth, and the Sai-no-kawara is a spot that has been revered since ancient times, so there is plenty to explore.

Kashiwagi-yama Round-trip (40 minutes one way)

Leaving from the Tobishima Marine Plaza boat terminal, take a right at the coal fired power plant, and climb up the stairs where you will find a wide path that is easy to walk on. Along the path there is a lookout from where you can see Oshakujima and the Eboshi Islands. When you reach the coast, you can see a rocks made of hardened lava that was formed from an eruption between 9 to 13 million years ago.

Once past Sai-no-Kawara and the candle rocks, there is a place where Tobishima Seaweed grows naturally. Keep following the path and after the cliffs there is an area where the creeping cedar (Hai Byakushin) grows. From the Tateiwa rocks you can see Mt. Kashiwagi, the Sea of Japan, and on fine days Mt. Chokai.

Tobishima is part of the Mt. Chokai and Tobishima Island Geopark.

Locations nearby worth checking out

Tobishima Island is said to have been formed from the eruption of Chokai-zan.