Hakusan: The Sacred Mountain Behind Kanazawa

Learn why the White Mountain of Ishikawa has been revered for more than a thousand years and how visitors can enjoy it.

Published October 22, 2026 at 2:05 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Hakusan, or Mount Haku, is a 2,702-meter mountain on the border of Ishikawa and Gifu prefectures, rising inland from Kanazawa. It is counted as one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains with Mount Fuji and Mount Tate, and tradition credits the monk Taicho with opening it in 717. Climbing huts typically operate from July to October.

Travelers who stay in Kanazawa often look east and wonder about the long snowy ridge that appears on clear days. That is the Hakusan area, a mountain that is much more than scenery. It is a sacred peak, a national park, a flower mountain, a volcano and the home of a worldwide network of shrines. This guide explains what Hakusan is, why people have worshipped it, how its landscapes are protected, when climbers go and how a visitor can enjoy it, whether you plan to hike or simply want to understand the mountain that shapes the identity of Ishikawa.

The short answer: what Hakusan is

Hakusan, written with characters that mean White Mountain and also called Mount Haku, is a stratovolcano on the island of Honshu. Its highest point, Gozengamine, stands 2,702 meters (8,865 feet) above sea level, and the summit area sits on the border of Ishikawa and Gifu prefectures. It is the highest peak of Ishikawa Prefecture, and reference sources describe it as the westernmost mountain in Japan that exceeds 2,000 meters.

The name is generally linked to the long winter snow cover. The summit stays white after neighboring mountains have lost their snow, and patches of snow remain into late summer. The mountain is also associated with Hakusan City, a city in southwestern Ishikawa that takes its name from it and includes parts of the national park.

One of Japan's Three Holy Mountains

Hakusan is traditionally counted among Japan's Three Holy Mountains, together with Mount Fuji and Mount Tate in Toyama Prefecture. Worship of the mountain goes back many centuries. Tradition credits the Shugendo monk Taicho with first climbing it in 717, and routes to the summit were later opened from the Echizen, Kaga and Mino sides in 832.

Shugendo is a Japanese mountain faith that blends Shinto, Buddhism and mountain asceticism, and it flourished around Hakusan in the medieval period. As that faith spread, local Hakusan shrines were founded around Japan. Sources give figures of roughly two thousand or more such shrines, with Hakusan Hime Shrine in Hakusan City recognized as the head shrine. The summit shrine became the Okumiya, or inner shrine, of that shrine in 1873.

The three peaks and the volcano beneath

The summit area has three main peaks known as the Hakusan Sanzan: Gozengamine, the highest at 2,702 meters, Kengamine at 2,677 meters, and a third peak called Onanji or Onamine. Together they surround a cluster of crater lakes, including Midorigaike, the largest, and Kon'yagaike, which give the high ground a distinct look.

Hakusan is a volcano, first active an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 years ago, and its most recent eruption took place from April to August of 1659. Today it is quiet and is enjoyed as a mountain for walking, but the volcanic history explains the crater lakes and varied terrain. Officials monitor volcanoes in Japan, so check current information from local authorities before you plan a climb.

A national park and protected landscape

The area around the mountain was designated a quasi-national park in 1955 and became Hakusan National Park on November 12, 1962. The park spans four prefectures: Ishikawa, Gifu, Fukui and Toyama. A Man and the Biosphere Reserve designation by UNESCO was added in 1980, and the Hakusan Tedori area was certified as a Japanese geopark in September 2011, later gaining recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark in May 2023.

The park contains an exceptionally wide range of vegetation, from warm temperate forests on the lower slopes to open alpine landscapes near the top. Forests include fir, pine, Japanese cedar and beech, and the wildlife list includes golden eagles, Japanese macaques, Japanese serow and sika deer. It is a reminder that Hakusan is a living ecosystem as well as a pilgrimage mountain.

Flowers, seasons and scenery

Hakusan is known as one of Japan's top flower mountains. Alpine meadows bloom during the short summer, and the black lily, the official flower of Ishikawa Prefecture, is said to grow here in greater numbers than anywhere else in Japan. More than twenty plant species carry the Hakusan name, which reflects how important the mountain is to botanists.

Seasons shape every experience. Winter brings heavy snow that closes the high routes to most visitors. Spring and early summer bring meltwater and the first flowers lower on the mountain. Summer is the main hiking period, and autumn colors spread down from the high ground in the fall. Because weather in the mountains can change quickly, always check forecasts and trail conditions.

When and how people climb

The traditional mountain-opening day is July 1, and mountain huts generally operate from July to October. Snow can remain on the trails into summer, so visitors should be ready for varied conditions. The two main routes begin at Bettodeai on the Ishikawa side: the Sabo Shindo, a shorter route often used for the ascent, and the Kanko Shindo, a route with broader views that many people use for descending. Other routes exist, but they are less developed and suit experienced hikers.

On weekends, holidays and during Obon in the warm season, private vehicles are restricted on the road between Ichinose and Bettodeai, and a paid shuttle bus operates during those periods. Two staffed lodging facilities, Hakusan Murodo and Nanryu Sanso, operate on a reservation basis with capacity limits. Reserve early, confirm details with the park authorities or local tourism offices, and carry enough water, rain gear and warm layers.

Seeing Hakusan without climbing

Not everyone wants to climb a 2,700-meter mountain. In Hakusan City visitors can explore the lower areas, the Tedori River valley and the shrine that carries the mountain's name. Hakusan Hime Shrine, the head of the network of Hakusan shrines, offers a way to connect with the spiritual side of the mountain at low elevation. Local tourism information in Ishikawa lists sights across the Kaga and Hakusan region.

Another way to appreciate the mountain is simply to look for it. On clear days, parts of the Kaga plain and the Kanazawa area have views toward the high ridge, and the snow-white outline in spring is a lovely sight. Combining a city day in Kanazawa with a regional trip into Hakusan City gives a full picture of how closely the city and the mountain are connected.

How Hakusan connects to Kanazawa and Japanese mountain culture

For people in Ishikawa, Hakusan is a symbol of local identity, which is why its name appears on many businesses, schools and local products. The Kaga region developed beneath its slopes, and rivers flowing from the mountain have long supported farms and craft traditions. A visit to Kanazawa's gardens, teahouses and museums feels more complete when you remember the mountain that shapes the water and weather behind the city.

It also fits into the wider Japanese idea of sacred mountains, in which peaks are homes of kami, or Shinto spirits, and destinations for pilgrims. Hakusan, Fuji and Tate share that status, and walking any of them with respect, by staying on marked paths and taking your litter home, is part of the tradition. Whether you hike it or only admire it from afar, Hakusan rewards curiosity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Hakusan?

The highest peak of Hakusan, Gozengamine, is 2,702 meters (8,865 feet) tall. Two other main peaks, Kengamine and Onanji, stand slightly lower. The mountain lies on the border of Ishikawa and Gifu prefectures and is the highest point in Ishikawa. It is a volcano that last erupted in 1659.

When can you climb Hakusan?

Most hikers climb in summer. Mountain huts generally operate from July to October, and July 1 is the traditional mountain-opening day. Snow can linger on the trails, and weather changes quickly, so check conditions with local authorities, reserve accommodation in advance and carry appropriate gear.

Why is Hakusan considered sacred?

Hakusan has been worshipped for centuries as a home of the kami, and it is counted among Japan's Three Holy Mountains. Tradition says the monk Taicho first climbed it in 717, and Shugendo practice flourished there, spreading a network of Hakusan shrines across Japan. Hakusan Hime Shrine is regarded as the head shrine.

Further Reading

To explore further, see Mount Haku, Hakusan National Park and Ishikawa Prefecture.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Kenrokuen: Kanazawa's Garden of Six Attributes, Shugendo and Yamabushi: Japan's Mountain Practitioners and Mountain Huts and Hiking Etiquette.