Japan's 100 Famous Mountains and How They Were Chosen
The name may sound like an official list drawn up by the government or an expert panel. It was the personal selection of one mountaineer, drawn from the peaks he had climbed himself. More than sixty years later, it remains a touchstone of Japanese hiking culture. Its lasting appeal says a lot about the writer who loved those mountains. Here's how he chose them and how the list can enrich your hiking, whether you're starting out or already experienced.
The mountaineer behind the list, Kyūya Fukada
Kyūya Fukada was a writer and mountaineer. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1903, the 36th year of the Meiji era, he took an early interest in literature and the mountains.
In 1959, he began writing about the peaks for the monthly magazine “Yama to Kōgen”. After a little over four years of installments, Shinchōsha published the book “Nihon Hyakumeizan”, or “Japan's 100 Famous Mountains”, in 1964. The following year it won the 16th Yomiuri Prize for Literature.
The list comes from Fukada's book and reflects his own experience and eye for mountains. People just starting out sometimes take it as a ranking of Japan's best 100 peaks. Think of it as a collection chosen by someone who loved climbing them.
Three criteria and an elevation guideline
Fukada described three criteria and an additional guideline in the book.
- Dignity. The mountain should move people. Its profile might be beautiful to anyone who sees it, or standing on it might inspire awe.
- History. The mountain should have a history of human connection, through religious pilgrimage, ties to local life or similar associations.
- Character. Its shape, plants, climate or some other feature should give it a distinct appeal.
As a rule, Fukada looked for mountains at least 1,500 m high. He included some lower peaks, including Mount Tsukuba (877 m) and Mount Kaimon (924 m). Outstanding dignity, history and character could outweigh the elevation guideline.
Fukada gave himself one hard rule. He had to have reached the summit himself. He compared choosing a mountain he hadn't climbed to hiring someone solely on the strength of a résumé. That firsthand approach is part of what gives the list its authority.
Seventy easy decisions and thirty close calls
According to Fukada, about 70 of the 100 peaks were clear choices. The remaining 30 only narrowly edged out other contenders. Mountains outside the list often came down to a close decision.
In Hokkaido alone, seven peaks, including Mount Nipesotsu and Mount Petegari, were left out because Fukada hadn't summited them. The list might have looked different if he had. It makes more sense to read it as the record of one mountaineer's travels than as a definitive ranking.
Making the list your own
Knowing where the list comes from, how can you use it in your own hiking?
Take time to experience each peak
Climbing all 100 peaks can be a great source of motivation. Fukada cared most about how each mountain made him feel. A single climb you take time to appreciate can be every bit as rewarding as a rush through the whole list.
Keep your own list of memorable mountains
Use the book as a starting point and keep track of mountains that meant something to you. Height and fame matter less than the experience of walking up a peak that stays with you. Following your own experience, as Fukada did, can make hiking richer.
Ask experienced hikers about your next peak
Guidebooks can only tell you so much. Someone who's actually walked a route can tell you about recent trail conditions, how crowded the hut gets and which season brings out the best in the mountain. A hiking community can help you stay safer and enjoy the trip more.
Summary
Japan's 100 Famous Mountains is Kyūya Fukada's personal selection of peaks he climbed, based on dignity, history and character, with 1,500 m as a general guideline. What comes through is his love of mountains and his care in visiting each one himself. Use the list to get to know the mountains in more depth as well as to choose places to go. Your own favorite mountains are waiting for you along the way.