​What Is The Hyakumeizan?

Intro

In 1964, a Japanese writer and mountaineer by the name of Kyuya Fukada, published a book entitled 日本百名山 - Nihon Hyakumeizan - 100 Mountains of Japan. The book was intended to be a collection of essays about 100 mountains that Fukada regarded as significant in regards to Japan's history and its mountaineering culture, the list was also based on his personal favourites with Fukada stating "In the end, the one hundred mountains represent my personal choice and I make no claims beyond that."

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Although it initially won a literary prize in 1968, the book was not well known outside of mountaineering communities until the crown prince mentioned it as one of his favourite books, expressing a desire to hike all 100 mountains. This coincided in the early 1980's with the development of better infrastructure, improved hiking gear, and more mountain huts, which turned hiking into a popular activity. All these elements lead to Fukada's book becoming famous, and creating a subculture of people seeking out the mountains on his list.

But what were his choices based on?

Possibly the most debated and controversial part about the Hyakumeizan is the criteria and method he used to choose the mountains. His selection is often confusing and contradictory, for example, one of his stated criteria is for the mountain to be over 1500m, but there are mountains on the list which are below this height, such as Mt. Kaimon which is 924m. The other 3 criteria he talked about were history, grace, and individuality - with the latter two being very subjective.

It's common for people who have hiked in Japan to also point out mountains that don't deserve the attention - that don't deserve being on the list. One example is Ainodake, which a neighbouring peak of Kitadake. Kitadake is the 2nd highest mountain in Japan, and once you reach Kitadake, an extra 4 hours of hiking across the ridgline will get you to the peak of Ainodake. But some people say it's not worth it, pointing out the superior terrain and views found on the Kitadake trail. Another common complaint, which Fukada couldn't have predicted, was the overdevelopment of some mountains. For example Tsukuba, Odaigahara and Kirigamine - they're so developed that you can drive right to the peak. Although, others point out that this isn't a bad thing, it's nice that some Hyakumeizan can be accessible for everyone.

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In the end, Fukada never set out to create a list of the best mountains in Japan, and was quite clear about stating this. So, many of these critiques about the Hyakumeizan, and the reason the list has become famous, are somewhat misunderstood. Goals and achievements can make activities more interesting and meaningful. With the history of the Hyakumeizan and it's alluring connection to Japan's mountaineering culture, it's understandable why it becomes a priority for hikers living in Japan. Personally, although the Hyakumeizan is tempting, I choose my hikes based on 3 criteria: does the terrain look fun, are the views and environment interesting, and is access to the trailhead worth it.