Mount Miune

A 1,235 m mountain that straddles Mitsue Village in eastern Nara Prefecture and Matsusaka City and Tsu City in Mie Prefecture. Designated as part of Murou Akame Aoyama Quasi-National Park and counted among Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains, it offers visitors the chance to enjoy nature as it changes with the seasons.

Hacchodaira, a plain-like area spreading out a little down from the summit on the Mie side, is a popular scenic viewpoint. From mid-May to late May, visitors can enjoy clusters of rare white azaleas, and in autumn, the vibrant fall colors delight hikers. During the coldest part of winter, “frost-covered trees” form when moisture in the air freezes onto the trees in the snowy fields. At the foot of the mountain, Mitsue Village also hosts the “Frost Festival,” creating a lively atmosphere.

The hiking trail from the parking lot at the foot of the mountain to the summit is 11 km round trip and takes Approx. 4–5 hours. In addition to the recommended course known as the “Noborio Route,” there is also a course where, after walking about 2 km through the woods along a stream from the trailhead, you can see a waterfall with a drop of Approx. 21 m. The waterfall, where Fudo Myoo is enshrined, sometimes freezes over in midwinter. Unlike its cool summer appearance, when it falls with a dramatic spray, its frozen form is extremely magical. For confident hikers, the route from the waterfall to the summit, which is a bit steeper than the other routes, is also recommended.