Kurumayama Highland

Kurumayama is the high point of the Kirigamine Highlands and the scenic climax of the Venus Line, the celebrated 76-kilometre skyline road that threads across the plateaus of central Nagano between Chino, Suwa, Matsumoto and Ueda. At 1,925 metres it is counted among Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, yet it wears its status lightly: broad, grassy and rounded, it is one of the easiest of that revered list to reach, and its summit rewards visitors with an enormous panorama for very little effort.\n\nFrom the top, marked by a large white weather radar dome, the view opens in every direction. The volcanic ridges of Yatsugatake rise close by, the Northern and Southern Japan Alps stretch along the horizon, and on clear days Mt. Fuji floats in the distance beyond the Suwa basin. Because the surrounding highland is open grassland rather than forest, the sense of space is exceptional, with nothing to block the sweep of mountains.\n\nThe highland is most famous for its early-summer flowers. In late June and July the slopes of Kirigamine, including the approaches to Kurumayama, are painted orange by vast colonies of nikko-kisuge (a day lily), one of the great wildflower spectacles of the Japanese highlands. Walking trails lace the meadows, connecting Kurumayama with the nearby Yashimagahara wetland and other Kirigamine high points, so the summit can be the start of a longer highland ramble or a quick out-and-back.\n\nGetting up is easy. A chairlift operates in the green season, carrying visitors to just below the summit, from where it is a short walk to the top; alternatively, the summit can be reached on foot in around forty minutes from the Kurumayama Kogen car park. Many people ride the lift up and stroll back down through the flower meadows, an approach that suits families and casual visitors. The Venus Line drive to reach the base is a highlight in itself, curving through open highland scenery with frequent pull-offs and viewpoints.\n\nSeasons transform the mountain. Summer brings the flowers and cool, breezy air that offers relief from the lowland heat; autumn brings golden grasses and the clearest long-distance views, the best time to catch Fuji on the horizon. In winter the highland becomes a small ski area, though the Venus Line and many facilities close or become limited by snow, so most sightseers visit between late spring and autumn.\n\nAs with all the Kirigamine highlands, the summit is considerably cooler and windier than the valleys, so bring a jacket even in summer, along with water and sun protection for the exposed, shadeless meadows. Check current lift and bus timetables before visiting, as both are seasonal. With its combination of an easy summit, sweeping alpine views and famous flower fields, Kurumayama offers one of the most rewarding effort-to-reward ratios of any mountain in Nagano, a true highlight of the Venus Line.