Mount Aino


Mount Aino, or Ainodake, is a peak of the Akaishi Mountains−Southern Alps, in Minami Alps National Park, Japan.
At, it is the fourth tallest peak in Japan and the second highest in the Akaishi Mountains. its peak lies on the border of Aoi-ku and Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, and of Minami-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Mount Aino is one of the landmark 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

Location

Within the Akaishi Mountains, Mount Aino is situated roughly south of Mount Kita, the ranges' tallest peak. Together with Mount Nōtori to the south the three mountains may be referred to as Shiranesanzan.
East of the summit lies the cirque Hosozawa Kar.

Geography

Mount Aino, like most of the Shiranesanzan, abounds with alpine plants. The neighborhood of the summit is dominated by rocks where few plants can survive. It is conceivable that landslides around the summit have led to the growth of linear hollows. Taking into account such landslides, Mount Aino might have been dozens of metres higher in the past compared to its present altitude. It may have been Japan's tallest mountain during the Last Glacial Maximum. At that time, Mount Fuji had not reached its present height, and the second and third mountains are presently only 4 and 1 metre taller, respectively.
Even though Mount Aino does not reach the height of Mount Kita, in its shape and dimension, it bears an equally great mass.

Mountain trails

Mount Aino lies on the traversal route between Mount Kita and Mount Nōtori. On the summit a trail forks towards Mount Mibu in the west,
where it connects to the Senshio Ridge traversal route.
The nearest alpine hut is Nōtori hut, which lies on a saddle to the south below Mount Nishinōtori. Another
Kitadake mountain cottage is situated to the north on a saddle between Mount Aino and Mount Kita.

Gallery