Hiruzen

The name of Hiruzen in the Japanese language is formed from two kanji characters, {{linktext|蒜}}, meaning garlic, and {{linktext|山}}, meaning "mountain".

The three peaks of Hiruzen are commonly known as the {{Nihongo|Hiruzen Sanza|蒜山三座||}}, or the "three seats of Hiruzen". They run from west to east and include:

• {{Nihongo|Kamihiruzen|上蒜山||}}, {{Convert|1202|m|ft}}, translated as "upper Hiruzen"
• {{Nihongo|Nakahiruzen|中蒜山||}}, {{Convert|1122|m|ft|abbr=on}}, or "central Hiruzen"
• {{Nihongo|Shimohiruzen|下蒜山||}}, {{Convert|1101|m|ft|abbr=on}}, or "lower Hiruzen".{{cite web | url = http://ww81.tiki.ne.jp/~hiruzen/hiruzen-kankou.htm | title = Hiruzen Kōgen e yokoso! | language = Japanese |trans-title=Welcome to Hiruzen Highland | accessdate = 2012-05-26}}

Mount Hiruzen has been settled from the Japanese stone age. Remains from the Jōmon period (14,000–300 BCE) are scattered across the Hiruzen and Ōbagun Basins. The Yayoi period (300 BCE–250 CE) saw a great population increase to the area south of Hiruzen. The Hiruzen Basin is home to six kofun burial mound groups, each featuring a medium-size round kofun of approximately 10 to 30 meters. The kofun groups of the Hiruzen Basin date to the late 5th century. By the Kamakura period (1185–1333) the Hiruzen Basin had become the northernmost point of the domain of the Tokuyama clan. In the Sengoku period (1467–1573) the Hiruzen region was contested by the Yamana, Akamatsu, Miura and other clans. After the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603, the area was ruled peacefully under direct control of the shogunate, the Mori clan, the Matsudaira clan, and others.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei |title=大庭郡 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-05-25 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=Japanese |trans-title=Ōba District |id=dlc 2009238904 |oclc=173191044 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }}

File:Hiruzen Jersey Land 01.jpg

Hiruzen is a dormant, but not extinct, volcano located to the southeast of Mount Daisen. The three peaks of Hiruzen, along with a few smaller peaks, form the Hiruzen volcanic belt, a subset of the Daisen volcanic belt.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei |title=Hiruzen |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-05-24 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=Japanese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }} An eruption of Daisen occurred approximately 350,000 years ago, and created a {{Convert|200|ha|acre}} lake, known as Lake Hiruzenbara, above the Hiruzen Plateau. The lake supported an extensive population of diatoms for nearly 50,000 years, and Diatomaceous soil on the plain reaches {{Convert|100|m|ft}} deep in some areas. Lake Hiruzenbara was gradually eroded on its eastern perimeter by the Asahi River, and dried up and disappeared over time.{{cite web | url = http://cms.top-page.jp/p/maniwa/hiruzen/5/4/3/ | script-title=ja:蒜山高原の誕生 | date = c. 2012 | publisher = Hiruzen Kankō Kyōkai | location = Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, Japan | language = Japanese |trans-title=Origin of the Hiruzen Plain | accessdate = June 21, 2012}}

The Hiruzen Highlands, also known as the Hiruzen Plateau, known in Japanese as either the {{Nihongo|蒜山高原|Hiruzen Kōgen||}} or {{Nihongo|蒜山原|Hiruzen-bara||}}, is located entirely in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture at the southern foot of Hiruzen. The plateau has an elevation of {{Convert|500|m|ft}} to {{Convert|600|m|ft}} and measures {{Convert|20|km|mi}} east to west and {{Convert|10|km|mi}} north to south. Known as a Resort area within west Japan, it receives the second highest number of tourists per year (25 million) within the prefecture after Kurashiki City (30 million). The plateau and its surrounding areas have been developed for recreation, specifically skiing and camping. Hiruzen Jersey Land, the largest Jersey cattle ranch in Japan, is also located on the plateau. Hiruzen Horse Park offers horseback riding on the plateau.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Kokugo Daijiten |title=Hiru-zen |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-05-24 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=Japanese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }}

The Hiruzen Plateau is the source of the Asahi River, which flows {{Convert|142|km|mi}} from Hiruzen south across the Okayama Plain, and empties into Kojima Bay on the Inland Sea in the eastern part of Okayama City. The Shiogama-reisen Cold Spring is designated as the source of the river, and is a protected natural habitat of the Japanese giant salamander.{{cite web | url = http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/okayama/hiruzenkogen.html | title = Hiruzen-kogen Highlands | date = c. 2012 | publisher = Japan National Tourism Organization | location = Tokyo, Japan | accessdate = June 21, 2012}} Yubara Dam, on the upper reaches of the Asahi, is approximately {{Convert|12|km|mi}} from Hiruzen and was completed in 1952. The dam forms an artificial lake, Lake Yubara ({{Convert|455|ha|acre}}), directly to the southeast of the Hiruzen Plateau.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Asahigawa |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-05-24 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }}{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Dijitaru daijisen |title=Asahi-gawa |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-05-24 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=Japanese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }} The Hiruzen Plateau has also developed recreational facilities for camping, skiing, and fishing.

File:Kamihiruzen.JPG

After Daisen, Hiruzen is the most visited mountain in the region, bordering on Tottori Prefecture. Hiruzen is a popular hiking destination. All three peaks are suitable for beginning climbers. The summit of Kamihiruzen and Nakahiruzen can be reached in approximately two hours, and Shimohiruzen in one hour and forty minutes, with a ridge trail leading across all three peaks taking roughly 10–12 hours from ascent to descent.

• Shiogama Reisen (Cold Spring)
• Hiruzen Herb Garden "Herbill"
• With hundreds of species of flowers and herbs, this garden is most well known for its lavender, which blooms during the month of July, and English-style garden roses, the English theme of which it carries to part of its menu, providing Cream Tea and imported British teas. Covered in snow during the Winter months, Herbill opens between April and December.
• Oomiya Obon Dance
• Designated an Intangible Important Cultural Property, this dance has a long history spanning back hundreds of years. The dance takes place multiple times during August, at various Shrines throughout Hiruzen.

• [https://archive.today/20111119053838/http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/chugoku/okayama/hiruzen-tsuyama/d8jk7l000002t2jc.html Hiruzen Highland]
• [http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/okayama/hiruzenkogen.html Hiruzen-kogen Highlands]

{{Reflist}}

Category:Mountains of Tottori Prefecture

Category:Mountains of Okayama Prefecture

Category:Volcanoes of Tottori Prefecture