Mount Tanzawa, Mountain summit in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Mount Tanzawa rises to 1,567 meters and straddles the boundary between three districts southwest of Tokyo. The summit is accessible via multiple trails with varying difficulty levels and connects to a broader network of neighboring peaks.

In 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake triggered many slope failures on Mount Tanzawa. In 1955 the peak hosted the mountain events of the 10th National Sports Festival, which led to the building of trails and mountain huts. The summit hut, Miyama Sanso, was rebuilt in 2004.

The name Tanzawa may come from an old Korean term: tan for a deep valley, sawa for a stream. Locals once called the peak Sanzakai or Sanzai-no-mine because it stood on the border of three districts. Charcoal makers knew the surrounding slopes as miyama, the deep mountain.

Most visits span two days with an overnight stay at one of the mountain huts along the route. Bus access to starting points like Yabitsu Pass or Okura provides the main entry to the trail network.

On clear days, the summit offers a view of Mount Fuji visible in the distance. This sight draws many hikers who seize the moment to photograph two of Japan's most recognizable peaks from a single vantage point.