What to know
Mount Tsurugi (剣山, Tsurugisan) rises 1955 meters at the eastern edge of the remote Iya Valley. As Shikoku's second highest peak, it is one of Japan's "100 Famous Mountains" and a center of Shugendo, a folk religion rooted in mountain worship. Despite its name meaning "Sword Mountain," it is a popular and accessible hiking destination rather than a technical climb.
A relaxing chairlift carries visitors most of the way up to a station near the summit. From there, the most direct route to the peak takes about 30–45 minutes on foot, while an alternate path via Otsurugi Shrine adds a little more time. At the top, you'll find a shrine, mountain huts, weather towers, and wooden boardwalks leading to viewpoints with sweeping panoramas of the surrounding mountains.
More adventurous hikers can ascend from the trailhead at Mi no Koshi near the lower chairlift station. The uphill hike takes about two hours.
A rental car is recommended for visiting Mount Tsurugi.
Alternatively, take a bus from Awa-Ikeda Station to Kubo (2 hours, 1790 yen, 4 buses/day), then transfer to a bus bound for Tsurugisan (剣山) and get off at the final stop (50 minutes, 1380 yen, 2 buses/day) near the lower chairlift station. Buses from Kubo to Mount Tsurugi operate only on weekends and during peak seasons from April to November. Peak seasons include Golden Week, the summer holidays (mid July through August), and the autumn color season (October to early November). How to get to and around the Iya Valley
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 16:30 (from 8:00 during Golden Week, August, and weekends and national holidays in October)
- Closed
- December to mid April
- Admission
- 1050 yen (~$6.72) (one way), 1900 yen (~$12.16) (round trip)
- English name
- Original name
- Mount Tsurugi (Tsurugisan)
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.