From Mount Ōdainichi to Hell Valley

Mount Okudainichi dyed in autumn colors

Mount Oku-Dainichi, towering over a section of Mt. Tateyama. As autumn deepens, the mountainside dons hues of red and yellow, creating a striking contrast between the rugged ridges and the vivid autumn foliage. The landscape woven from the remaining green alpine vegetation at the base and the gradient of colored trees is truly a moment symbolizing autumn in the Northern Alps.

Sulfur Valley Overlooking Mount Yūhō

A view overlooking Mt. Okudainichi in the Tateyama mountain range. Below lies Hell Valley, where the scent of sulfur lingers. Steam rises from the stark, white rock faces, creating a powerful contrast to the quiet mountain ridges. Hell Valley is passed down in Mt. Tateyama faith as the “Scenery of Hell,” a place that conveys the harshness and awe of nature to visitors. The contrast between the gentle autumn colors of Mount Okudainichi and the desolate valley below reflects the profound character unique to Mt. Tateyama.

Mt. Tateyama Jigokudani — The Sulfur Peak Where Heaven and Earth Meet

Mt. Tateyama Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is a volcanic area located within the Mt. Tateyama mountain range of the Northern Alps, featuring rugged terrain filled with fumaroles and the pungent smell of sulfur. Known since ancient times as “Hell,” this place is also recognized as an object of mountain worship and symbolizes the “Hell Pure Land” within Mt. Tateyama faith. The rock formations visible in the photograph are sulfur-rich rocks shaped by centuries of volcanic activity, their distinctive yellow hue striking. The contrast between the towering Mt. Tateyama range behind them and the high autumn sky accentuates nature’s harshness and beauty. This moment, where the clear blue sky and white fumaroles coexist, is a scene that truly captures the essence of Mt. Tateyama.