Mt. Yamizo

This famous mountain, 1,022-meter-high, straddles the prefectures of Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Fukushima and is also the highest peak in Ibaraki prefecture. Visited by numerous climbers each year, some of the mountain's many highlights include primeval Japanese beech and Erman's birch forests; the springs of the Yamizo River, selected for inclusion in a list of Top 100 Famous Water by the Ministry of the Environment; and the Nichirinji Temple, the 21st temple of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. The scenery visible from the mountaintop observatory is spectacular, and the beauty of the area's fall foliage in autumn in particular is well worth seeing.