Azuma mountain range is located between Fukushima and Yamagata prefecture with the height of more than 1,900 meters. It consists of several extinct volcanic peaks and one active volcano, Issaikyo-san, which is located at the eastern end of the range. The highest peak is Nisi-azuma-san is situated at the western end.

   The mountains are covered with Aomori fir forests on their higher slopes. On the main ridge, there is alpine vegetation with beautiful flowers and marshy plants. From spring to summer, a variety of alpine flowers bring colors to the ridge.

   During the winter, the slopes of Nisi-azuma-san are covered with several meters of snow and become a popular ski resort called "Gran doco" with a long gondola lift. During summer vacation, the gondola lift is used for hikers, so hikers can climb Nisi-azuma-san easily on one day.

   I got off at Inawashiro Interchange of Banetu Expressway and drove route 459 to Ura-bandai. Turned right at Gosiki-numa(pond), I drove up to Gran deco ski resort along Onogawa-lake.

   Gran deco ski resort is the best place for climbing Nisi-azuma-san. The gondola lift takes hikers up to the 1,300m top station.

   First the trail goes up smoothly through a natural mixed forest of beech, Japanese oak and other vegetation. Soon they give way to coniferous forestry like Aomori fir( oosirabiso ). The trail continues up steadily through a dark and humid forest. As the trail becomes steeper, the landscape gets short and bushy with rhododendrons and azaleas.

   Going over a small peak, the top of Nisi-daiten can be seen ahead of us for the first time. Gentle ridge line between Nisi-daiten and Nisi-azuma-san can be seen to the right.

   Climbing the steep ridge and leaving out the shrubs, the trail comes up to the 1,982 m exposed summit of Nisi-daiten. It is marked by a triangular stone structure. From the top you can see a marvelous view of Nisi-azuma-san to the east, and the conical peak of Bandai-san to the north. It takes two hours from the top station.

   There are four trails at the top. Just below the top you choose the right(east) trail continuing down to the main ridge. This is a wonderful ridge walk as seeing pretty alpine flowers.

  At the bottom of the ridge there is a junction with a signboard. The right trail leads down to a small stream. Clean and cold water is available here.

   Climbing the ridge gently and passing through a grove of a short forest, the trail reaches a flat marshy area with some small ponds. Cotton flowers are coming out around the ponds in early summer and a wooden planked trail is laid in the marsh.

   There is a flight of steps before the trail reaches a wooden hut. In front of the hut there is a trail fork. A right trail leads to Nisi-azuma-san, and a straight and left one is the short-cut route to Tengu-iwa and Bonten-iwa( rock ). Both join near the Bonten-iwa.

   I chose the left trail to take a circular route and first headed to Tengu-iwa with a miniature shrine on the rock. Bonten-iwa is a short distance from Tengu-iwa.

   Bonten-iwa is the best view point. On the huge rock of Bonten-iwa I could see nearly all the mountains of Azuma Range. And there is an excellent view of neighboring marshy area with lots of small ponds below.

   After lunch at Bonten-iwa, I took another trail to Nisi-azuma-san through coniferous forest.　Since the summit is surrounded with trees, I couldn't see any view. But I took a picture in front of the signboard to prove stepping on the highest point.

  Going forward brought me to the hut again from where I turned the same route back to the ski resort. When I arrived at the bottom station of the gondola lift, it was about 3:00 pm and spent 6 hours from the start.