🌋 Azuma-Kofuji, a mountain that breathes slowly but never dies.

On the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, we drove through autumn forests until we saw white smoke rising from the slopes ahead—Azuma Naka-dake, one of the active volcanic craters in the Azuma Mountains. This approximately 29-kilometer mountain road, open only from spring to autumn, offers a glimpse of the earth's birth.

From the Jododaira parking lot, we climbed a 15-minute wooden staircase to the summit of Azuma-Kofuji, approximately 1,700 meters above sea level.
Below, a deep crater formed by an eruption over 7,000 years ago, its reddish-gray stone walls dotted with golden and red koyo bushes. The cool light reflected on the crater made it seem as if the mountain was reviving.

The faint smell of sulfur, as we traveled, was a reminder of the "living" mountain. Azuma-Kofuji not only teaches us about the majesty of nature—it also teaches us that Silence and change are the only constants.

#Fukushima #AzumaKofuji #BandaiAzumaSkyline #Japan #Koyo #JapaneseVolcano

Post by Mr. Choon | Oct 19, 2025