is a mountain on the border of Chino and Minamimaki, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of the major mountains of Yatsugatake Mountains. Mount Iō literally means, sulphur mountain.
Outline Mount Iō is a stratovolcano in Southern Yatsugatake Volcanic Group, with sharp cliffs on both the northern and southern side. This mountain belongs to the Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Park.
In 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, Kyūya Fukada mentions the loss of a younger climbing mate, Kyoichi Yoshimura, who fell to his death while descending the northern cliffs of Mt Iō.One Hundred Mountains: Unstructured situations - When trivial decisions lead to fateful outcomes. |accessed March 12, 2024 The incident happened when Fukada was a student at Tokyo Imperial University.
Mountaineering This mountain is one of the major mountains in the Yatsugatake Mountains, and is considered an easy climb for most climbers to reach to the top. The summit is accessible year-round but winter speciality climbing gear is necessary from October through April.
One of the easiest routes is from , , and takes approximately 6 hours. From Sakuradaira, the climb is approximately 5 km, and passes , , a mountain hut with hot spring that is open year-round, , , a seasonly-opened mountain hut, and , . Sakuradaira is accessible by car, or by shuttle from Chino Station if staying at one of three mountain huts in the Iodake Sanso group, Iodake Mountain Hut, Natsusawa Kosen, Neishi Mountain Hut.Natsuzawa Kosen Mountain Lodge (Japanese only). |accessed March 12, 2024
A second route is from , , to Natsuzawa Pass. It is also possible to climb from Mount Akadake, the only 100 Famous Mountain in the Yatsugatake Range.
Access seasonally from Minotoguchi or Tatsunokan Bus Stop of Alpico Kōtsū from Chino Station Sakuradaira (car parking available)
Gallery
References
硫黄岳 - Yamakei Online