Mount Tanigawa: A Safe Journey in Japan’s ‘Mountain of Death’

August 8, 2025. Minakami, Japan. Day 3

Today, we started our morning with a walking tour of Minakami. Our stroll took us around the town and over the Tone River, where whitewater rafters waved at us. We meandered through the narrow streets, which led us to a small pagoda. Later, we found Kimamaya Café and enjoyed a delicious breakfast of salad greens, sausages, and fresh-baked bread for only $10.

After breakfast, we decided to visit Mount Tanigawa, a prominent mountain on the border of Gunma and Niigata prefectures. Despite its modest height of 1,977 meters (about 6,486 feet), it’s known as the “Mountain of Death” due to its treacherous conditions. It’s infamous for having one of the highest numbers of climbing fatalities in the world—surpassing even Mount Everest. The sudden and dramatic weather shifts, caused by its location between the Pacific and Sea of Japan weather systems, are the main cause of these tragedies.

We reached the summit in comfort and safety, thanks to the Tanigawadake Ropeway and a chairlift. Once at the top, we explored the many trails, heading north to take in spectacular views despite the cloud coverage. To the south, we saw several shrines, and we even found a well-appointed café and terrace at the top of the chairlift station where you can grab a meal.

After our awe-inspiring time at Mount Tanigawa, we headed back to Minakami. On the way, we stopped at Garba Café to try the famous Baumkuchen, or “tree cake,” which was simply delicious and a must-have. We returned to our hotel for an onsen bath and some well-deserved relaxation. Stepping away from Tokyo has taken us deeper into Japanese culture and given us experiences we’ll never forget. Stay tuned for more!