April 28, 2014
Mt. Yufu, a locally loved volcano, pleasing climbers, tourists from at home and abroad
Mt. Fuji, the world famous volcano 3,776 meters high, is Japan’s symbol, but there are 100 or so “furusato (home town) Fuji mountains” long cherished by local people of each region across Japan. Mt. Yufu, located in the western part of Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is one of these mountains.
Mt. Yufu is dubbed “Bungo Fuji.” Bungo is the old name of Oita. The beautifully shaped dead volcano is an isolated peak with its hems extended around. Mt. Yufu is “a nice mountain to climb and to view,“ a guidebook says.
On a journey with my newly married wife left at home. Over there is Mt. Yufu looking like a young girl’s plaited hair hanging about her shoulders.
Clouds! Please do not linger on around so I may have a distant view of our home.
(A personal translation)
This is a waka poem included in Japan’s oldest waka anthology Manyoshu, which was compiled in the eighth century. The poem, composed by an unknown author, plays on words. The name of Mt. Yufu, “Yufu-no-yama” or “Yuu-no-yama” in Japanese, resembles the word “Yuu” (to be pronounced “yuh-uh), the verb which can be used to mean, for example, tying one’s sash or dressing one’s hair. This makes the reader imagine a scene where the husband helps tie his wife’s sash or dress her hair.
Grassy land spreads around the foot of the mountain, but as the climber goes up toward the top, Mt. Yufu shows its hard landscape. The mountain has two peaks. The east peak is 1,580 meters and the west peak is 1,584 meters high. The east peak is easier to climb, but both peaks stand on ledges.
Beneath the two peaks is the Matae junction. Well experienced people climb up a rocky path with ropes hung in places toward the west peak, while other people try to reach the east peak.
Climbers have to go through hard paths from three different fronts, but they can have a relaxing look at small wild flowers here and there beside the trails.
There are few tall trees and deep woods on the way up the mountain. So, the mountain commands a good view of Yufuin, a popular hot spring resort. After climbing down the mountain, people can have a bath to get over their fatigue with daytime spa services available at hotels down there.
In recent years, Mt. Yufu attracts an increasingly number of foreigners, because Yufuin Spa is included in courses for tourists from other countries. The mountain is expected to be further loved by local people as their spiritual symbol, but its many faceted nature should become an attractive spot for foreigners, too.
