Japanese Mountains

Mt. Ryogamiyama is a mountain located on the border of Chichibu City and Ogano Town, Chichibu County, Saitama Prefecture. Located in the northern part of the Okuchichibu massif, it is 1,723 meters above sea level and one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan. Ryokamiyama, Sanbōzan, and Mukōzan are collectively known as the "Chichibu Sanzan" (Three Mountains of Chichibu).Stone Buddhas and stone statues of wolves (komainu) can still be seen in the mountains, preserving the atmosphere of bygone days.Ryogamiyama is characterized by a series of saw-toothed rocky peaks. The trail gets steeper as you climb to the top, climbing over exposed rocks with chains attached. From the top, the mountains of Nishi Kamishu and Yatsugatake can be seen. Geologically, much of Mt. Ryokamiyama is composed of chert (SiO2 , the same as quartz).Chert is formed from fossils of plankton (radiolaria) that sank to the seafloor hundreds of millions of years ago, and is harder than iron.