300 Famous Mountains of Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about this list.

Q. What is the Sanbyaku-meizan?

A.The Sanbyaku-meizan is a list of 300 notable Japanese mountains selected by the Japanese Alpine Club in 1978, independently of Fukada's *Nihon Hyakumeizan*. Regional balance and local affection were weighted alongside stature, so the list reaches into mid-elevation peaks that wider-net surveys often miss. This page shows only the 101 additional peaks not already on the 100 or 200 lists.

Q. Why are there 101 additional peaks, not 100?

A.Because the 300-list and the 200-list were compiled by different organisations independently, one peak appears on the Nihyaku-meizan but not on the 300. The total breakdown is therefore: 100 Hyakumeizan + 100 Nihyakumeizan additions + 101 Sanbyakumeizan additions = 301 unique mountains.

Q. Should I climb the 200-list or the 300-list first?

A.The usual order is Hyakumeizan → Nihyakumeizan → Sanbyakumeizan. The 200-list tends to be slightly harder and better-known, while the 300 leans toward locally-loved low- and mid-elevation peaks. Many hikers also simply chase the mountains nearest home, regardless of which list they appear on.

Q. Has anyone completed all 300 mountains?

A.Yes. Records published by the Japanese Alpine Club and hiking media show several completionists each year, but the project typically requires 10–30 years of sustained climbing along with strong logistics, fitness and weather luck. It is recognised as one of Japanese mountaineering's longest endeavours.

Q. How is the Sanbyaku-meizan different from the Hyakumeizan?

A.The Hyakumeizan was one writer's personal aesthetic selection; the Sanbyaku-meizan is the Japanese Alpine Club's institutional survey, weighted toward regional spread. As a result the 300-list includes more mid-elevation peaks under 1,500 m and more mountains beloved in their home prefecture, alongside the high-alpine summits.