Hiruzen, Volcanic peak in Maniwa, Japan
Hiruzen is an extinct volcano in Okayama Prefecture made up of three separate summits that reach 1,202 meters (3,944 feet) in height. The three points are called Upper, Middle, and Lower Hiruzen and sit above a wide plateau covered in meadows and forests.
The three peaks formed in a series of eruptions between roughly one million and 400,000 years ago, when lava flows of dacite and andesite shaped the current massif. Geologists classify this formation as part of the same volcanic group as nearby Mount Daisen.
The name Hiruzen comes from old local traditions and today marks an area where visitors see grazing Jersey cattle across open pastures. The region is known for its dairy products, sold in small shops and farms scattered around the base of the peaks.
Marked hiking trails connect all three summits and offer routes for beginners to experienced walkers with varying gradients. On clear days, views from the higher points reach as far as the Sea of Japan and the mountains of the Chugoku region.
The lowest of the three summits offers a full circle view over the entire surroundings, including neighboring Mount Daisen, even though it attracts fewer walkers than the two higher points. Many visitors reach this point first because the climb from the plateau is shorter.
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