Mount Iwaki

Mt. Iwaki rises to 1,625 meters and is the highest mountain in Aomori Prefecture. Also known as "Oiwaki-yama" or simply "O-yama," its beautifully symmetrical conical shape has earned it the nickname "Tsugaru Fuji." Along with the Hakkoda Mountains, it was selected by mountaineer and writer Kyuya Fukada as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains. While many of the peaks on this list are technically challenging, Mt. Iwaki is relatively accessible: you can take a lift up to the 9th station (around 1,470 meters) and reach the summit in about 40 minutes on foot, making it suitable even for beginners. The climbing season generally runs from June to October. At the summit, you will find the inner shrine of Iwaki-san Shrine, which is well worth a visit. At the mountain’s base are hot spring resorts such as Dake Onsen and Hyakuzawa Onsen, as well as tourist apple orchards that open from summer through autumn. Between Hyakuzawa and Dake, a roughly 20-kilometer stretch of cherry trees—about 6,500 Oyama-zakura—forms what is said to be the longest cherry blossom avenue in the world. The best season for these cherries is from late April to early May. From mid-August to early October, this road is also lined with stalls selling "Dakekimi," an exceptionally sweet corn with a sugar content of 18% or more that can even be eaten raw.