Mount Ikeda, Mountain in Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Mount Ikeda is a 923.9 m peak spanning Ikeda, Ibigawa and Tarui in Gifu Prefecture, within Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō National Park. A paved road from Ikeda Onsen runs to the summit area, narrow and steep at first, and a trail from the Kasumigaseki valley passes an azumaya and a mountain hut. The summit holds a second-order triangulation point.
The summit road, the Ikeda-Myōjin forest road, opened in 1979 and is closed from mid-December to the end of March. The mountain lies within Ibi Sekigahara Yōrō National Park and is listed among the Gifu Hyakuzan, a selection of 100 Gifu mountains. The summit observatory was demolished after falling into disrepair, and the summit ranch has closed.
The eastern foot of the mountain holds the hot springs of Ikeda Onsen and Yumoto Yukano-sato, fed by a sodium bicarbonate spring (a hypotonic alkaline simple spring, or pure bicarbonate spring) whose source lies on Mount Ikeda. The mountain's name is also carried by the Ikeda mountain-to-summit road, opened in 1979, and by the Ikeda no Mori forest area of about 103 hectares. At the foot stands the Kasumigaseki gorge, one of Japan's 100 best cherry blossom spots.
Multiple trails lead to the summit with parking areas at the base and rest stops along the main routes. The paths vary in difficulty so visitors can choose based on their fitness level and time available.
The summit road, opened in 1979, is closed from mid-December to the end of March. Near the eighth station, a take-off area for hang gliders and paragliders has a rest shelter, toilets and drinking water, and at weekends many gliders launch from it. The summit's observation platform was removed after it deteriorated.
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