Chokaisan (Mount Chokai)
ちょうかいさん
Standing at an altitude of 2,236 meters, this is a sacred mountain (reizan) in the Tohoku region where the deity Omotoki-no-kami resides. It is often referred to as "Dewanoshi" (the Fuji of Dewa).
Overview
At 2,236 meters, it is the second-highest peak in the Tohoku region after Mt. Hii. Its snow-capped appearance resembles Mt. Fuji, leading it to be known as a representative "local Fuji" with names such as "Dewanoshi," "Shonai-Fuji," and "Akita-Fuji." At the summit sits Chokaisan Omotoki-jinja (Omotoki Shrine), one of the first three shrines of the Dewa Province (Dewanoshi Ichinomiya), which enshrines the deity Omotoki-no-kami. Since the medieval period, it has been a sacred site for Shugendo (ascetic mountain worship), with practitioners gathering at trailheads such as Yajima, Kotaki, Fukiura, and Wareroka. It is also designated as one of Japan's One Hundred Famous Mountains.
Enshrined deity / legend
Omotoki-no-kami
Highlights
- ・2,236 meters in elevation, the second-highest peak in Tohoku
- ・Beautiful mountain scenery referred to as "Dewanoshi"
- ・Chokaisan Omotoki-jinja (Dewanoshi Ichinomiya) at the summit
- ・Chokai Blue Line (driveable up to the 5th station)
Details may change. Please check official sources before visiting.