Mount Daisen

Mount Daisen (Daisen), located in Tottori Prefecture, is a stratovolcano with an elevation of 1,729 meters. Although it is geologically a volcano, it is not classified as an active volcano today. Daisen is not only the highest peak in Tottori Prefecture but also the tallest mountain in the Chūgoku region. Due to its majestic form, which from certain angles resembles Mount Fuji, it is also called the “Hōki Fuji” or the “Izumo Fuji.” Because it is located in the former province of Hōki, it is often referred to as “Hōki Daisen.” The mountain is listed among Japan’s “100 Famous Mountains” and “100 Scenic Spots,” and is considered the most symbolic natural landmark of Tottori Prefecture.

Geography and Nature

Daisen is a solitary peak rising prominently from the Chūgoku mountain range, with a massive body measuring about 35 km east–west, 30 km north–south, and a volume of 120 cubic kilometers, making it one of Japan’s largest rhyolitic volcanoes. Its main peak is Mount Ken-ga-mine (1,729 m), but due to the hazardous traverse routes, the slightly lower peak of Mount Misen (1,709 m) has traditionally been the center of worship and ritual.

The mountain hosts diverse vegetation zones: between 800 and 1,300 meters above sea level stretches the largest primeval beech forest in western Japan. Higher up, there is no typical coniferous forest zone; instead, one finds thickets and alpine grasslands. Near the summit lies a rare pure forest of Daisen Kyara-boku (a subspecies of Japanese yew), which has been designated a Special Natural Monument of Japan. The entire area forms part of Daisen-Oki National Park and is also designated as a national wildlife protection area.

History and Faith

Daisen has long been regarded as a sacred mountain. In the Izumo Fudoki, the “Kunibiki Myth” describes it as a divine stake used to anchor the Shimane Peninsula. Since the Yayoi period, it has been worshipped as a dwelling place of deities. After the introduction of Buddhism, Daisen-ji Temple was established in its mid-slopes, becoming an important site for ascetic practice that blended mountain worship, Buddhism, and Taoism. In 865, Daisen-ji was reformed as a special branch temple of the Tendai sect, attracting countless practitioners over the centuries.

Unlike some other Shugendō sacred sites, Daisen did not completely prohibit women from entering. Records in the Daisen-ji Engi note that people of all genders and classes were allowed to practice there, though certain restrictions on women were imposed at times during the Edo period. In the early Meiji era, Daisen-ji was severely damaged due to the government’s anti-Buddhist movement (haibutsu kishaku), and was not revived until 1903, albeit on a smaller scale.

Development and Conservation

During the Shōwa period, agricultural development was promoted on Daisen’s lower slopes, and after World War II, repatriates expanded cultivation areas up to around 1,000 meters in elevation. Today, Mount Daisen is a popular destination for hiking, skiing, and nature tourism. To protect the fragile summit terrain, the “One Tree, One Stone Movement” was launched in 1985, encouraging climbers to carry stones up to the peak to help reinforce eroded areas.