Mount Iō (Yatsugatake)
{{Short description|Volcanic mountain in Japan}}
{{More footnotes|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Iō
| other_name = 硫黄岳
| photo = Mt Io from Natsuzawa Pass.jpg
| photo_caption = Mt Io taken from Natsuzawa Pass in March 2024
| elevation_m = 2760
| elevation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/io-dake-kf6fe.html |title=Io-dake|publisher=PeakVisor|language = English |accessdate=March 7, 2024}}
| prominence = 110
| listing = List of mountains and hills of Japan by height
| translation = Sulphur Mountain
| language = Japanese
| pronunciation = {{IPA|ja|ioːdake|}}
| location = On the border of Chino and Minamimaki of Nagano in Japan
| range = Southern Yatsugatake Volcanic Group
| coordinates = {{coord|35|59|55|N|138|22|11|E|type:mountain_region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| type = Stratovolcano
| age =
| last_eruption =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
}}
{{nihongo|Mount Iō|硫黄岳|Iō-dake}} 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. [https://onehundredmountains.blogspot.com/2013/01/unstructured-situations.html]|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 summitt is accessible year-round but winter speciality climbing gear is necessary from October through April.
One of the easiest routes is from {{nihongo| Sakuradaira|櫻平}}, {{Convert|1894|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, and takes approximately 6 hours. From Sakuradaira, the climb is approximately 5 km, and passes {{nihongo| Natsusawa Kosen|夏沢鉱泉|Natsuzawa kousen}}, {{Convert|2054|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, a mountain hut with hot spring that is open year-round, {{nihongo| O-ren Hut|オーレン小屋|O-ren goya}}, {{Convert|2316|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, a seasonly-opened mountain hut, and {{nihongo| Natsuzawa Pass|夏沢峠|Natsuzawa touge}}, {{Convert|2423|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. 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). [https://iodake.jp/natsuzawa/]|accessed March 12 2024
A second route is from {{nihongo| Honzawa Onsen|本沢温泉}}, {{Convert|2100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 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
File:The northern cliff of Mt Io.jpg|The northern cliff of Mt Io in March 2024
File:Mt.Iodake from Mt.Amidadake 02.jpg|SSW side of Mount Iō
File:Mt.Iodake 08.jpg|Summit of Mount Iō from the SSE
File:Mt.Iodake 02.jpg|View from summit of Mount Iō. Mount Amida on the left.
Image:Iodake6.JPG| Siberian Dwarf Pines at the Top of Mount Iō
{{wide image|View from Mt.Iodake 01-3.jpg|700px|View from Summit of Mount Iō||none}}