Tsurugi-san (剣山, 1,955 m) is the second-highest mountain in Shikoku and the highest point in Tokushima Prefecture, after only Ishizuchi-san among the peaks of western Japan. Its broad, boardwalk-crossed summit plateau — a dwarf-bamboo grassland called Heike-no-Baba (平家の馬場) — is the signature feature of the mountain, and a seasonal chairlift carries walkers most of the way up the slope. The name "Sword Mountain" comes from the sword-shaped sacred rock at its shrine and from a Heike legend tied to a sacred sword enshrined here. The result is one of the gentler, more approachable high peaks in western Japan, with an easy summit walk and a classic ridge traverse for those who want more.
Why Fukada Chose Tsurugi-san
Tsurugi-san is one of the hundred mountains in Kyūya Fukada's Nihon Hyakumeizan. The book is arranged in a roughly north-to-south geographic sequence rather than as a ranking, and Tsurugi-san falls in the Shikoku stretch alongside Daisen and Ishizuchi-san. As the second-highest summit in western Japan and the high point of Tokushima, with a broad open plateau unusual among Japanese peaks, it earns its place among Shikoku's two Hyakumeizan mountains.
The Mountain
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,955 m (1,954.65 m); 6,414 ft |
| Prefecture | Tokushima (the prefecture's highest peak) |
| Rank | Second-highest in Shikoku / western Japan, after Ishizuchi-san |
| Character | Broad sasa-grassland summit plateau; shrine pilgrimage site |
| Chairlift access | Tsurugi-san Tourist Climbing Chairlift, Minokoshi (1,420 m) → Nishijima (1,750 m), ~830 m line, ~15 min (seasonal) |
| Book order | Roughly north-to-south, not a ranking (near Daisen and Ishizuchi-san) |
| Typical season | Late April – late November |
The Routes
Chairlift route (via Nishijima)
Grade: Easy
- Access: Tsurugi-san Tourist Climbing Chairlift from Minokoshi (1,420 m) to Nishijima (1,750 m), about a 15-minute ride
- From Nishijima to the summit: roughly 40–60 minutes one way depending on the path chosen — the Onemichi (ridge) route is about 40 minutes, the Ōtsurugi-jinja route about 60 minutes, and the promenade route about 80 minutes
- Elevation gain: ~205 m from Nishijima (1,750 m) to the summit (1,955 m)
- Round trip: roughly 1.5–2 hours total from Nishijima
- Character: Short, well-graded approach to the open summit plateau, with the summit shrine and a boardwalk crossing the sasa grassland. Accessible to families.
Minokoshi route (on foot)
Grade: Moderate
- Access: Starts at the Minokoshi trailhead (1,420 m) — the same place as the chairlift base
- Distance: ~2.3 km one way
- Elevation gain: ~555 m
- Time: about 1h30 ascent, 1h10 descent
- Character: The full on-foot climb when the lift is not used or is closed. Forested trail emerging onto the open summit.
Jirōgyū traverse
Grade: Moderate
- Route: From the Tsurugi-san summit, follow the open sasa ridge southwest to Jirōgyū (次郎笈, 1,930 m), Tsurugi's iconic "brother peak"
- Time: about 1 hour each way
- Character: The signature scenic walk of the mountain — a broad grassland ridge with long views. Tsurugi-san itself carries the alternate name Tarōgyū (太郎笈), pairing it with Jirōgyū.
Getting There
Seasonal trailhead bus: The "Gurutto Tsurugi-san Tozan Bus" runs from JR Sadamitsu (貞光) station to the Minokoshi trailhead via Route 438, taking about two hours. It operates on weekends and holidays from mid-April to mid-November, excluding the Obon period — and note that service is fully suspended in June.
By car: Drive south from the JR Sadamitsu area on Route 438 to the Minokoshi parking area. This is a narrow mountain road, so allow extra time.
Mountain Huts
Tsurugi-san Chōjō Hütte (剣山頂上ヒュッテ): A lodge near the summit offering accommodation. It is a separate facility from the summit shrine.
Tsurugi-san Hongū Hōzōseki-jinja (剣山本宮宝蔵石神社): The summit shrine, a focus of the mountain's pilgrimage tradition. Its sacred rock is tied to the Heike legend that gives the mountain its name.
Flora and Wildlife
Asiatic black bear: Shikoku has a present but critically small, endangered population of Asiatic black bears. Encounters are very unlikely, but make noise on forested sections as you would on any mainland Japanese trail. (Shikoku has no Hokkaido brown bears, so the heavier bear-spray precautions used in Hokkaido do not apply here.) Shikoku also has no ptarmigan — that alpine bird does not occur on the island.
Sika deer: Sika deer have overpopulated on Tsurugi-san and are an ecological problem, browsing and degrading the sasa (dwarf bamboo) grassland of the summit plateau. They are not a tame attraction but a conservation concern for the mountain's vegetation.
Heike-no-Baba sasa plateau: The broad summit plateau is a dwarf-bamboo (sasa) grassland known as Heike-no-Baba, crossed by boardwalk to protect the vegetation.
Kirengeshoma: Kirengeshoma palmata, a yellow summer wildflower, is a celebrated seasonal highlight of Tsurugi-san, blooming roughly July to August on the slopes near Ōtsurugi-jinja.
Ōtsurugi-jinja and Goshinsui: The standard ascent passes Ōtsurugi-jinja (大劔神社), with its sword-shaped sacred rock Otō-ishi (御塔石), and the nearby Goshinsui spring (御神水), counted among Japan's "100 Famous Waters."
Seasonal Guide
Late April – May: Season opening; lingering snow possible in sheltered spots early on.
July – August: Peak summer, when the Kirengeshoma wildflowers bloom near Ōtsurugi-jinja.
October: Autumn colour on the lower forest approaches, often with excellent clarity.
Note on June: The seasonal trailhead bus is fully suspended in June, so check chairlift and transport schedules carefully if planning an early-summer visit.
Practical Tips for Foreign Visitors
Plan around the season and schedules: Both the chairlift and the seasonal bus run only roughly late April to late November, and the bus does not operate in June. Confirm current schedules before you travel, especially for early-summer or late-autumn trips.
Choose your effort level: The chairlift makes the summit reachable with only a 40–60 minute walk from Nishijima, while the Minokoshi route on foot adds about 555 m of climbing. For the most rewarding day, add the roughly one-hour ridge traverse to Jirōgyū.
Combine with Ishizuchi-san: Shikoku's two Hyakumeizan peaks, Ishizuchi-san and Tsurugi-san, pair naturally into a multi-day Shikoku mountain trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you climb Tsurugi-san as a day trip?
Yes. With the chairlift from Minokoshi to Nishijima, the summit is only a 40–60 minute walk away, making a round trip of roughly 1.5–2 hours from Nishijima. On foot from Minokoshi without the lift, allow about 1h30 up and 1h10 down over roughly 2.3 km and 555 m of gain — comfortably a day hike either way.
Can you reach Tsurugi-san without a car?
Yes, in season. The "Gurutto Tsurugi-san Tozan Bus" runs from JR Sadamitsu station to the Minokoshi trailhead via Route 438 in about two hours, on weekends and holidays from mid-April to mid-November (excluding Obon). Note that it is fully suspended in June, so an early-summer visit without a car needs careful schedule checking.
Is Tsurugi-san suitable for beginners and families?
Yes. Using the chairlift to Nishijima leaves only a short, well-graded 40–60 minute walk to the open summit plateau, which is accessible to families. The summit is crossed by a boardwalk over the sasa grassland.
When is the best season, and when does the snow clear?
The typical season runs roughly late April to late November, the window when both the chairlift and the seasonal bus operate. Lingering snow is possible in sheltered spots early in the season around late April to May. July to August brings the Kirengeshoma wildflowers near Ōtsurugi-jinja, and October offers autumn colour on the lower forest approaches.
Are there bears on Tsurugi-san, and what should I do?
Shikoku has a present but critically small, endangered population of Asiatic black bears, so encounters are very unlikely. Make noise on forested sections as you would on any mainland Japanese trail. Shikoku has no Hokkaido brown bears, so the heavier bear-spray precautions used in Hokkaido do not apply here.
This guide is part of the Japan's 100 Famous Mountains: Complete Hyakumeizan Guide series.
