Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park was added to Your Favorites!
Koshu, Yamanashi
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Chichibu-Tama-Kai contains no volcanoes, an unusual feature for such a vast mountainous national park in volcanically active Japan.
The park contains headwaters of the Tama, Arakawa, Fuefuki and Chikuma river systems, sending mountain water toward very different parts of Japan.
Tokyo began managing forests in the upper Tama watershed in 1901 specifically to protect the city's water supply and water quality.
Okutama wasabi uses cold, clean mountain water, turning the park's protected watershed into one of the region's distinctive traditional foods.
Wolves remain sacred messengers at Mitsumine Shrine, where a wolf-associated talisman can still be ritually received for household protection.
The Tama River begins at Mizuhi in the mountain forest and travels about 138 kilometers before reaching Tokyo Bay.
The Kobushi UNESCO Biosphere Reserve contains almost 40 percent of Japan's recorded butterfly species, including 24 endangered species.
Mt. Kobushi stands near the headwaters of the Chikuma, Fuefuki and Arakawa river systems, whose waters ultimately follow very different routes.
Tokyo's water-source forest covers roughly 25,000 hectares and is described as Japan's largest forest owned by a water utility.
Nippara Limestone Cave formed in sedimentary limestone, revealing a completely different geological character from the granite landscapes farther west.
Granite dominates around Mt. Kinpu and Mt. Mizugaki, where erosion created sheer cliffs, huge boulders and unusual rock towers.
Mt. Kinpu's summit is marked by Gojoiwa, an enormous and unmistakable granite formation rising prominently near the mountaintop.
Mt. Mitake has long been a center of mountain worship, with shrine approaches, shukubo pilgrim lodgings and religious traditions surviving today.
Waterfall purification called takigyo remains part of the spiritual culture of Mt. Mitake, continuing traditions of training in the mountain landscape.
Sacred kagura dances on Mt. Mitake have been transmitted through generations as part of the mountain's continuing religious traditions.
Mt. Ryokami is an ancient mountain of worship, and stone Buddhist figures remain along routes climbing through its rugged terrain.
Hossawa Falls is Tokyo's only waterfall included among Japan's celebrated top 100 waterfalls and can partially freeze during cold winters.
Hinohara traditionally holds a winter contest in which participants predict how completely Hossawa Falls will freeze.
Mt. Mitake supports a celebrated colony of rengeshoma, delicate woodland flowers that typically bloom during August.
Japanese flying squirrels inhabit the park's forests and are among the distinctive mammals visitors may encounter around Mt. Mitake.
The park's forests also support Asiatic black bears, Japanese serow, deer, wild boar, macaques and Japanese stoats.
Karisaka Pass formed part of the old Chichibu road, one of the mountain routes once essential for travel between isolated communities.
Daibosatsu Pass became famous throughout Japan through Kaizan Nakazato's monumental historical novel Daibosatsu Toge.
Mt. Kumotori reaches 2,017 meters, making this forested summit the highest point in Tokyo Metropolis.
Mitake Gorge follows the upper Tama River for roughly four kilometers, allowing visitors to walk beside water headed eventually toward Tokyo.
At Mitsumine Shrine, wolf guardians replace the foxes or lion-dogs visitors might expect at other Japanese shrines.
Musashi-Mitake Shrine is associated with Oinu-sama, a protective wolf deity honored in mountain faith.
Pilgrims can still sleep in shukubo lodgings on Mount Mitake, continuing a tradition of mountain hospitality.
Kagura, sacred dance and music, is part of the living religious heritage associated with Mount Mitake.
The cool, clean streams of Okutama help support wasabi cultivation, a distinctive local food tradition.
Nishizawa Gorge is celebrated for Nanatsugama-Godan Falls, a series of cascades and striking mountain pools.
