Mount Kurohime


Mount Kurohime is a stratovolcano located in Shinano town, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The mountain is one of the 200 most famous mountains in Japan, and one of the 100 most famous mountains in Nagano.
Mount Kurohime is one of the "Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu", which also includes two mountains located in Nagano City, Mount Iizuna, located 8.2 km to the south of Mount Kurohime, and Mount Togakushi, located 8 km to the southwest; Mount Madarao, located 13.4 km to the east-northeast in Shinano town and Iiyama; and Mount Myōkō, located 8.8 km to the north in Myōkō city, Niigata Prefecture.

Leisure activities

Hiking

There are several day-hike trails to the summit of Mount Kurohime.
One popular route, that is rated relatively easy according to the Nagano Trail Guide, starts at Togakushi Camp Site. From there it is 20 minutes to Ohashi forest road entrance, 35 minutes to the trailhead, 100 minutes to Shindobunki, 35 minutes to Shiratamadaira, 15 minutes to Mineno oike bunki, and 10 minutes to the summit . There is also limited parking at Ohashi forest road entrance.
An alternative route is to begin at Ohashi trailhead, five minutes on foot along Nagano Prefectural Road Route 36 from Ohashi forest road entrance. From the Ohashi trailhead it is 30 minutes to Furuike, then 100 minutes to Shindobunki, and then the same as above.
There is an additional, although more physically challenging route due to the steepness of the route, beginning approximately 2.5 km from Kurohime Station.

Skiing

Kurohime Kogen Ski Resort is located in Shinano town on the eastern slopes of Mount Kurohime.

In folklore

Mount Kurohime is famous for the folktale of Kurohime Monogatari, a tragic story about a snake living in Lake Iwakura and a princess of the Takanashi clan.
Kurohime was proposed to by a snake, but her father Takanashi Masamori refused. The snake grew angry after being rejected multiple times, and tried to destroy the castle town. To placate the snake, Kurohime gave herself up. There are various versions of the ending. In one version, Kurohime dropped a sword and her hair in Lake Iwakura following the advice of a local god, defeating the snake but also disappearing herself. Another ending claimed she willingly went to live with the snake on top of Mount Kurohime.
The name of the mountain is said to originate from the story's titular protagonist.