Mount Sanage, Mountain summit in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Mount Sanage is a summit in Aichi Prefecture with an elevation of 629 meters, its slopes covered with Japanese cedar, hinoki cypress, and birch trees. Two main trails connect the shrine at the base to the peak, forming a circuit route of 13.3 kilometers that visitors can complete.
The mountain has long been a site of mountain and megalith worship. According to shrine documents at the foot, the name comes from a monkey that, after accompanying Yamato Takeru on his eastern campaign, withdrew to live on this mountain. The tomb of Ōusu no Mikoto, said to have died here from a viper bite, lies on the slopes, and Sanage Shrine below honours him.
The name Sanage comes from a legend in the shrine documents: a monkey kept by Emperor Keikō was thrown into the sea, later joined Yamato Takeru's eastern campaign, and then lived on this mountain. The shrine at the base enshrines Ōusu no Mikoto, who is said to have died here from a viper bite.
The two hiking trails are well-marked and require moderate fitness for the four-hour walk; starting early in the morning helps you reach the summit in daylight. Sturdy shoes and plenty of water are important, especially if you plan to complete the entire loop.
The summit holds a first-order triangulation point, listed under the name Sanageyama and located within Seto city limits. The mountain also appears in Kawaguchi Matsutaro's novel Shishimaru Ippei, whose hero is granted martial arts by the mountain god of Sanage.
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