Amagi-san (天城山) is the highest mountain of the Izu Peninsula and the forested backbone of Shizuoka's warm coastal highlands. It is not a single peak but a broad, extinct volcanic massif whose ridge links two main summits: Banjiro-dake (万二郎岳, 1,299 m) and the higher Banzaburo-dake (万三郎岳, 1,406 m), the highest point on the entire peninsula. The mountain is woven into Japanese literature through Kawabata Yasunari's novella The Izu Dancer (伊豆の踊子, 1926), set partly at the Amagi Pass — though that literary site sits several kilometres south of the summits, on a separate trail corridor.
Why Fukada Chose Amagi-san
Amagi-san appears in Kyuya Fukada's Nihon Hyakumeizan. The book is ordered roughly north to south — by geography, not by rank. Fukada wrote of the mountain as the literary heart of the Izu Peninsula, its name carried far by Kawabata's The Izu Dancer, and praised the quality of the forest walk and its rhododendron groves.
The Mountain
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Banzaburo-dake (万三郎岳), 1,406 m (4,612 ft) |
| Second summit | Banjiro-dake (万二郎岳), 1,299 m |
| Prefecture | Shizuoka |
| Geology | Extinct Quaternary stratovolcano (formed ~800,000–200,000 years ago) |
| Character | Forested volcanic ridge; rhododendron groves; literary fame |
| Literary fame | Kawabata Yasunari's The Izu Dancer (1926) |
| Hyakumeizan | Included (book order is roughly north-to-south, not a ranking) |
Amagi-san is a Quaternary stratovolcano that formed roughly 800,000 to 200,000 years ago and is no longer active, so there is no volcanic hazard to plan around — just a long, gentle, deeply wooded ridge.
The Routes
Banjiro–Banzaburo Summit Loop
Grade: Moderate
- Distance: ~8 km loop (roughly 8.1–8.4 km depending on source)
- Cumulative elevation gain: ~700 m
- Time: about 4.5 hours (standard course time)
- Character: The classic circuit from the Amagi Jusou trailhead. The common clockwise direction climbs the lower summit, Banjiro-dake (1,299 m), first, then follows the forested ridge to the high point, Banzaburo-dake (1,406 m). The loop returns past the 万三郎岳下分岐, 涸沢分岐 (Karesawa junction), and the 四辻 (Yotsutsuji) junction, which sits about 20 minutes from the trailhead. Forest cover is near-continuous, with the Amagi rhododendron at its finest in May.
Getting There
By public transport (recommended):
Take a JR train to Ito Station (伊東駅) on the Izu Peninsula's east coast. From there, ride the Tokai Bus 天城東急リゾート line bound for the Amagi Kogen Golf Course (天城高原ゴルフ場), about 55 minutes, alighting at the 天城縦走登山口 (Amagi Jusou trailhead).
Note: this is a seasonal line with limited service, and the Ito Station–Amagi Kogen route has been flagged for possible discontinuation. Always check the current Tokai Bus timetable (and any golf-course shuttle) before travelling, and expect crowded return buses during the May rhododendron season.
The Shuzenji-side buses are a different corridor: they serve the Amagi Pass and Hatcho-ike trailheads, not the summit loop described above.
By car:
The summit-loop trailhead is the Amagi Kogen Golf Course, normally approached from the Ito side via the Izu Skyline and local roads. (There is no expressway running all the way to the Amagi highlands.)
Flora and Wildlife
Amagi rhododendron (アマギシャクナゲ): Endemic to the Izu Peninsula, this rhododendron blooms on the ridge in May, with peak bloom roughly from mid-May into early June. The ridge groves at flowering time are the mountain's signature sight.
Okada lizard (オカダトカゲ): A skink endemic to the Izu Peninsula and the Izu Islands — one of the small endemic reptiles you may encounter on the warm, sunlit sections of trail.
Bears: The Izu Peninsula is part of Honshu, so any bear here would be the Asiatic black bear (ツキノワグマ). In practice the peninsula has historically very sparse bear presence, and bear encounters on this hike are unlikely. Carrying a bear bell is reasonable, but bear spray is not a routine requirement here as it is in Hokkaido.
Seasonal Guide
March – April: Early spring; cool, with some rhododendron beginning at lower elevations.
May: Peak Amagi rhododendron on the ridge — the standout time to hike here.
September – October: Clear air and good views; autumn colour through the mixed forest.
December – February: Occasional light snow; the trail is generally accessible, but check conditions and carry traction if snow has fallen.
Practical Tips for Foreign Visitors
Build it into an Izu trip: Amagi-san is the inland hiking highlight of the Izu Peninsula, easy to pair with the hot springs at Atami or Shuzenji and the coastal towns toward Shimoda.
Plan the bus carefully: Because the summit-loop trailhead depends on a limited seasonal bus from Ito Station, confirm departure times in both directions before you commit to the hike, and have a backup plan for the return leg.
The Kawabata literary site is separate: The Amagi Pass (天城峠) of The Izu Dancer, with the old Amagi Tunnel, lies several kilometres south of the summits and is reached by a different set of trailheads and buses (from the Shuzenji side). It is a worthwhile visit in its own right, but it is not a short add-on from the Banzaburo summit loop — treat it as a separate outing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amagi-san a day hike or an overnight?
It is a day hike. The standard Banjiro–Banzaburo summit loop is about 8 km with roughly 700 m of cumulative gain and a standard course time of about 4.5 hours, comfortably done in a single day.
Can I reach the trailhead without a car?
Yes. Take a JR train to Ito Station (伊東駅), then ride the Tokai Bus 天城東急リゾート line to the Amagi Kogen Golf Course — about 55 minutes — and alight at the 天城縦走登山口 (Amagi Jusou trailhead). This is a limited seasonal line that has been flagged for possible discontinuation, so confirm departures in both directions and have a backup plan for the return leg. The Shuzenji-side buses serve the Amagi Pass and Hatcho-ike trailheads, not this summit loop.
When is the best time to hike, and what about snow?
May is the standout time, when the Amagi rhododendron reaches peak bloom on the ridge (roughly mid-May into early June). September and October bring clear air and autumn colour. From December to February there can be occasional light snow; the trail is generally accessible, but check conditions and carry traction if snow has fallen.
Do I need to worry about bears?
Bear encounters here are unlikely. The Izu Peninsula is part of Honshu, so any bear would be the Asiatic black bear (ツキノワグマ), and the peninsula has historically very sparse bear presence. Carrying a bear bell is reasonable, but bear spray is not a routine requirement here as it is in Hokkaido.
Is this the setting of Kawabata's The Izu Dancer?
Only partly, and not at the summits. The Amagi Pass (天城峠) of The Izu Dancer, with the old Amagi Tunnel, lies several kilometres south of the summit loop and is reached by a different set of trailheads and buses from the Shuzenji side. Treat it as a separate outing rather than a short add-on.
This guide is part of the Japan's 100 Famous Mountains: Complete Hyakumeizan Guide series.
