100 Famous Flower Mountains
The 100 Flower Mountains (Hana no Hyakumeizan) were chosen by author Sumie Tanaka in her 1980 essay collection of the same name — 100 peaks celebrated for their alpine wildflowers and mountain flora. The book won the 32nd Yomiuri Prize for Literature and has been a beloved companion for flower-loving hikers ever since.
This page covers the 61 peaks on the list that can be reached without a private car. Most trailheads are served by bus from the nearest train station; for those that aren't, a shared taxi or regular taxi will get you there. Featured peaks include Hachimantai, Kirigamine, Mt. Adatara and Mt. Akagi. Each guide spells out the exact route from the station to the trailhead — bus and taxi timetables, fares, and frequencies verified against official schedules. Use the map and list below to compare access ease and fitness demand, whether you're planning a day hike or a multi-day traverse with an overnight stay beforehand.
100 Famous Flower Mountains
Compare by the numbers
A deeply forested plateau receiving 4,000 mm of rain per year, mystical for the standing-dead-tree grove of Masaki-ga-hara and the Ōjagura cliff.
The highest peak along the Sanriku coast, blanketed with Tsutsuji and Shakunage and commanding views of the Pacific and Hayachine.
An Akita peak reachable by gondola, known for rich alpine flora including Chinguruma and for spectacular winter snow monsters.
The highest peak of the Abukuma Highlands, uniquely combining the Horyū Shrine summit and the limestone cave at the foot.
The dominant peak of the Sobo-Katamuki range in Kyushu, mantled in primeval forest and Akebono azaleas with a superb summit view.
A mountain whose broad high alpine wetland and countless bog pools are hailed as a sky-high paradise, magical for summer flowers and autumn grass.
Sapporo's highest mountain, where the Haіmаtsu zone opens a summer panorama of Yōteisan and the surrounding peaks.