Best trails in Bandai-Asahi National Park

Bandai-Asahi National Park is home to three sacred mountains known as the Dewa Sanzan: Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. These mountains have been recognized since ancient times as sacred sites for Shugendo, a sect of asceticism where ascetics retreat into the mountains to attain enlightenment. Mt. Haguro is said to be a present mountain that grants people worldly benefits, Mt. Gassan is a mountain of the past where the spirits of ancestors reside, and Mt. Yudono is a mountain of the future. There are shrines near the peaks of each mountain, and the shrine at Mt. Haguro, famous for its five-story pagoda, a national treasure, is a must-see. Today, the mountains are used for a variety of purposes, including religious climbing, touring historical sites and temples, mountain climbing, and summer skiing.

The national park is home to lush forests, ponds and volcanic lakes. The Goshiki-numa Lake, with its beautiful scenery of 30 different ponds and lakes, is known as one of the most scenic spots in the country. The southwestern part of the park has many hiking trails where you can get a glimpse of the various aspects of the majestic nature, including rare alpine plants and rugged wilderness.