The Ashikaga Foothills – Made for Hikes and Bikes

The Ashikaga Foothills – Made for Hikes and Bikes

By Rob McManmon | February 15, 2021

Ashikaga is a small city in the western corner of Tochigi Prefecture. Home to the first ever school in Japan and one of the top flower parks in Japan Ashikaga is also home to a set of mountains that stretch north and west from town out towards Kiryu and Nikko.

Ashikaga City's official hiking map has a great view of the surrounding mountains! — Ashikaga City’s official hiking map has a great view of the surrounding mountains!

Notable Peaks

The Nagaishi Pass Observation Deck is a regular meeting point for cyclists in the area.

Akayukiyama 赤雪山 (elev. 620m)

The pavilion atop Akayukiyama.

A simple summit with a pavilion, Aka-yuki-yama (tr. Red Snow Mountain) sits above the Matsudagawa Dam Recreation Area 松田川ダム. The access point is from the Nageishi Forest Road Pass 長石峠 and just 1.4km to the summit.

Senningatake 仙人ヶ岳 (elev. 663m)

Views from Senningatake facing back towards Ashikaga.

Sennin-ga-take (tr. Hermit Mountain) is the highest peak in the Ashikaga Foothills. It also boarders and connects to the Kiryu Hishimachi Kanakuzu Hiking Area.

Gyodosan 行道山 (elev. 441m)

The Joinji Temple viewed from the nearby Gyodosan.

足利行道山くものかけはし
The painting is titled, “Clouds hang below Ashikaga’s Gyodosan bridge.”

The famous Hokusai Ukiyo-e Painting of Gyodosan.

行道山浄因寺

Oiwayama 大岩山 (elev. 417m)

View from the observation deck of the foothills below.

Just south of Gyodosan, Oiwayama is home to two temples and a fantastic observation deck for viewing the Ashikaga Foothills.

Snapping a photo of the Oiwayama Bishamonten Temple.

If you are free on new years eve the Bishamonten Temple hosts one of the wildest festivals in Japan!

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Posted in Ashikaga, Tochigi, Hiking, Kita Kanto Area Rides, Kita Kanto Region, Tochigi Prefecture