I had heard about Japan’s abandoned ski field on Tsuchiyu-yama, but I hadn’t realised exactly what their plans for the place were. Now I know.
Honestly, there’s not much to this mountain. The abandoned ski field is cool and everything, and I’m pretty certain it’s the town’s efforts for the place that helped it make the list, along with Genso-no-mori ( as well as its location along the Mogami River, but besides these, the place doesn’t have much going for it.
In terms of hiking, there is a gravel road up Tsuchiyu-yama that first takes you to the abandoned ski field, and then up the ski field, through a forest and to these pylons near the summit. From there it’s a short five minute walk to the actual summit in the middle of a beech forest, which is nothing exciting. The views on the path up are pretty good though, but they could be had from different mountains that are a better hike, such as Yozo-san or Gassan. So it might be worth going there instead.
Tsuchiyu-yama (土湯山つちゆやま) is a 577m (1893 ft.) peak in the Shonai and Mogami regions of Yamagata prefecture, Japan, that is an abandoned ski field. Tsuchiyu-yama is open year-round from what I can tell, but you will need snowshoes in the winter. Tsuchiyu-yama is a level 1 in terms of physical demand, which means it is easy to hike, has a D technical grade, which means it requires a relative amount of expertise, and you want to allow at least 3 hours for a climb.
See my detailed article on Tsuchiyu-yama at or my 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata project at
My article about Matsuo Basho on Dewasanzan.com
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Other mountains from the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata project:
I Hiked to The Medieval Castle of Mt. Yamuki in North Japan
Mt. Yudono in the Snow | Dewa Sanzan | Kiwi Yamabushi
The Dewa Sanzan’s Mountain of Death: Mt. Gassan
The Dewa Sanzan’s Mt. Haguro: A Yamabushi Guide
The Hidden Side of Haguro
The Widow’s Peak: Mt. Ubagatake of Tohoku, North Japan
North Japan Snow Hike | The donut-shaped Mt. Yonetaihei
Mother. Hunter. Mountain. Mt. Hokari
The Epitome of Autumn Leaves in North Japan: Mt. Taizo
Hiking Japan: Mt. Maya | Mythical Beasts and Buddha’s Mother
Hiking North Japan: Mt. Fujikura
The Yamabushi Peak of Sutras: Mt. Kyogakura
North Japan’s Waterfall Wonderland Mt. Atsumi
Conquering Japan on Mt. Nihonkoku
Forest Bathing on Mt. Takadate
Sakura Mountain: Mt. Arakura
Explore the Yamabushi Trails of Mt. Kinbo
#japan #abandonedplaces #abandoned
Alo Japan.