Mountain List

200 Famous Mountains of Japan

100 peaks

Compiled in 1984 by the Fukada Kyūya Club to extend the original Hyakumeizan, the Nihyaku-meizan adds 100 peaks of comparable standing. The list was assembled in response to Fukada's own note that "there were another ten or twenty mountains I could have added" and to readers who lamented worthy peaks left off the first hundred — Myōkō, Hachimantai, Yōtei, Iwate-san, Rausu, Hotaka-yama and Nokogiri-dake among them.

The list is a natural next goal for hikers who have finished the original hundred, and full completion is known as the "200-meizan hunt" / "200-meizan challenge." Trail access, mountain huts and signage tend to be a step less developed than on the Hyakumeizan, so these peaks reward those who want quieter ridgelines and locally-loved mountains over the famous classics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about this list.

Q. What are the 200 Famous Mountains of Japan (Nihyaku-meizan)?
A.The Nihyaku-meizan is a list of 200 notable Japanese peaks selected by the Fukada Kyūya Club in 1984 as an extension of Fukada's original Hyakumeizan. This page shows only the additional 100 peaks not already on the 100-list.
Q. How is the Nihyaku-meizan different from the 100 Famous Mountains?
A.The 100 are Fukada's personal selection (1964); the 200 add a further 100 peaks chosen by his successor club, intentionally including mountains Fukada himself said "could have been added." The combined 200 cover a broader regional spread, with quieter peaks alongside the famous ones.
Q. Which mountains are on the Nihyaku-meizan?
A.Highlights include Myōkō (Niigata), Yōtei (Hokkaidō), Hachimantai and Iwate (Iwate), Rausu (Hokkaidō), Hotaka-yama (Gunma), Nokogiri-dake (Southern Alps), Ashitaka-yama (Shizuoka), Norikura and Arashima — all of comparable stature to the Hyakumeizan in elevation, terrain or local heritage.
Q. Are the 200 Famous Mountains harder than the 100?
A.It varies by peak, but the Nihyaku-meizan includes mountains with less-developed trails and rougher terrain — Nokogiri-dake, Eboshi-dake and Oizuru-ga-take, for example. Compared to the Hyakumeizan's "standard-route" feel, the 200 leans further toward peaks aimed at local alpine clubs and experienced parties, so route reconnaissance matters more in the planning phase.
Q. What is the "200-meizan hunt"?
A.The 200-meizan hunt (or 200-meizan challenge) refers to completing all 200 mountains across the Hyakumeizan and the additional 100 Nihyakumeizan peaks. It is a natural next goal for hikers who have finished the original hundred and typically takes years of additional travel.