Hakusan 白山

Mt. Hakusan is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains,” along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tateyama. It has been the focus of local esoteric mountain worship for centuries. Hakusan is still considered as an active volcano, though the last time it erupted was in 1659. Today, Hakusan is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, standing 2702 metres tall.

There are many trailheads to this holy mountain, the one we hiked up was from Hirasedō Trailhead, nearby Shirakawago – a touristy village which received the UNESCO’s World Heritage status in 1995.