Welcome to Marudai | Blessings from Mt. Akagi ｜ History of Marudai
Blessings from Mt. Akagi
A place associated with Mr. Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
Mr. Ryunosuke Akutagawa , one of Japan’s most famous literary figures, visited Mount Akagi. You can find this in “Mountain Azaleas of Akagi” by his friend, Mr. Kyo Igawa . In June 1913, during his second trip to Akagi with his friends, he kept saying to them, “Isn’t it really nice? Isn’t it beautiful? That’s why I like Mount Akagi the best.
Hey, isn’t it better than anywhere else?”
The beautiful Mount Akagi with its long base.
Mount Akagi, one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains, has long been a symbol of Gunma Prefecture, along with Mount Haruna and Mount Myogi, as one of the “Three Mountains of Jomo.” We are blessed with the pure water that flows over time from the lake at the summit to its base. This mountain boasts a plateau second only to Mount Fuji, and is famous for its gently sloping foothills. However, Mount Akagi is not a single mountain; it is actually a collective term for a total of eight mountains, including Mount Kurobi, which reaches over 1,800 meters.
Mount Akagi’s Four Seasons
Surrounded by multiple mountain peaks, near the center is Lake Ono (also called Oonuma), a caldera lake that boasts some of the clearest waters in Honshu（Mainland）, and is dotted with the marshland Kakumanbuchi, also known as “small-Oze”, and the crater lake Konuma. In spring, the area bustles with visitors with its thousand cherry blossoms, the fresh greenery of early summer and the autumn leaves that shine against the deep blue of the lake’s surface, and in winter,
fishing under the ice is a seasonal tradition, making it a beautiful area throughout the year.
Akagi Shrine
Located on the shore of the lake, Akagi Shrine is one of the most prestigious shrines, mentioned in documents dating back over a thousand years. The shrine enshrines the gods of Mount Akagi and the lake as its sacred objects. The beautiful red shrine building and Woodpecker Bridge stand out beautifully against the green of the mountains and the blue of the lake.
Mount Akagi Tourism
Gunma Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture surrounded by mountains, yet strangely, it never feels oppressive. Many of its mountains, such as Mount Akagi, feel familiar. Boat rides on the lake are a delight, and marathons and lantern events are also held in the surrounding area. The recent boom in mountain climbing has also seen an increase in hikers and climbers exploring the region’s diverse mountains.