Mount Kamui, mountain in Akan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan
Mount Kamui is a volcano in Teshikaga, Hokkaido, located within the Mashū caldera and covered with forest vegetation. The mountain has a rounded peak with steep slopes and reaches about 857 meters in height.
This is a stratovolcano built from layers of lava and ash over many eruptions, with the last known eruption occurring roughly 1000 years ago. Scientists continue to monitor it carefully as there is speculation it may still be active.
The name Kamui comes from the Ainu language and means 'god' or 'spirit'. The Ainu people, native to Hokkaido, have long considered this mountain a sacred place tied to their spiritual traditions and local stories.
The mountain is accessible via a hiking trail roughly 7 kilometers long that winds through forests and follows the caldera ridge. Good footwear and warm clothing are recommended, especially outside summer, and the area has basic facilities near the trailhead within Akan National Park.
The mountain is often shrouded in mist during early mornings, creating a mysterious appearance that makes it especially popular with photographers. Lake Mashū, which fills the caldera below, is one of Japan's deepest lakes and famous for its mirror-like surface that reflects the sky perfectly.
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