Mt. Tsurugi: Attacking the Palace of Crags

Mt. Tsurugi in Toyama Prefecture is one of the most impressive peaks in Japan's Northern Alps range, rising to a height of 2,999 meters. Because of its jagged appearance it is often called the "Palace of Crags". Although modern alpinism was introduced in the late Meiji period (1868-1912), Tsurugi was the last of Japan's major mountains to be climbed. It is still considered the hardest. Cveto Podlogar is a professional mountain guide who has scaled numerous peaks around the world. To reach the top of Mt. Tsurugi, he begins by following the course of the Kurobe River, first by train and then on foot. The Kurobe Gorge Railway was originally built for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. And the Horizontal Track was cut into the precipitous cliff face. His route continues via Sennin-ike, a pond offering views of Mt. Tsurugi, across a glacier, and then along a steep, rocky ridge. Along the way, he comes across tunnels dug in the rock face, and discovers the remains of an old molybdenum mine at an altitude of almost 3,000 meters. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Cveto leads the way through beautiful autumnal scenery. He explores sites that bear testimony to Japan's modern industrial history. And he overcomes setbacks to finally scale the "Palace of Crags" — the summit of Mt. Tsurugi.