Hiruzen (蒜山, ひるぜん) is the name of an area located in the North of Maniwa City in the north of Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Hiruzen was formed of 3 small towns: Chuka, Yatsuka, and Kawakami, which together were known as the town of Hiruzen, which was merged with several other towns to become current Maniwa City in 2005. Its main feature is the Hiruzen Sanza (蒜山三座), a mountain located on the border of Okayama and Tottori prefectures on the main island of Honshu in Japan. The Hiruzen Sanza consists of three peaks of similar elevation, the highest being Mt. Kamihiruzen (Hiruzen (上蒜山)) at 1,202 m (3,944 ft).^[1] The Hiruzen Highlands, (also known as the Hiruzen Plateau) has an elevation of 500 metres (0.31 mi) to 600 metres (0.37 mi).^[2] Hiruzen is an important part of the Daisen-Oki National Park.^[3][4]

Quick Facts Highest point, Elevation ...

Hiruzen
蒜山
Hiruzen viewed from the Hiruzen Plateau, with Kamihiruzen at center and Nakahiruzen to the right
Highest point
Elevation	1,202 m (3,944 ft)
Coordinates	35°19′30″N 133°39′49″E
Naming
Language of name	Japanese
Pronunciation	Japanese: [çiɾɯzeɴ]
Geography
Hiruzen Okayama Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture
Parent range	Chūgoku Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking

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The name of Hiruzen in the Japanese language is formed from two kanji characters, 蒜, meaning garlic, and 山, meaning "mountain".

The three peaks of Hiruzen are commonly known as the Hiruzen Sanza (蒜山三座),^[1] or the "three seats of Hiruzen". They run from west to east and include:

• Kamihiruzen (上蒜山), 1,202 metres (3,944 ft), translated as "upper Hiruzen"
• Nakahiruzen (中蒜山), 1,122 m (3,681 ft), or "central Hiruzen"
• Shimohiruzen (下蒜山), 1,101 m (3,612 ft), or "lower Hiruzen".^[1][4][5][6]

Mount Hiruzen has been settled from the Japanese stone age. Remains from the Jōmon period (14,000–300 BCE) are scattered across the Hiruzen and Ōbagun Basins. The Yayoi period (300 BCE–250 CE) saw a great population increase to the area south of Hiruzen. The Hiruzen Basin is home to six kofun burial mound groups, each featuring a medium-size round kofun of approximately 10 to 30 meters. The kofun groups of the Hiruzen Basin date to the late 5th century. By the Kamakura period (1185–1333) the Hiruzen Basin had become the northernmost point of the domain of the Tokuyama clan. In the Sengoku period (1467–1573) the Hiruzen region was contested by the Yamana, Akamatsu, Miura and other clans. After the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603, the area was ruled peacefully under direct control of the shogunate, the Mori clan, the Matsudaira clan, and others.^[7]

Hiruzen is a dormant, but not extinct, volcano located to the southeast of Mount Daisen.^[1] The three peaks of Hiruzen, along with a few smaller peaks, form the Hiruzen volcanic belt, a subset of the Daisen volcanic belt.^[3][5] An eruption of Daisen occurred approximately 350,000 years ago, and created a 200 hectares (490 acres) lake, known as Lake Hiruzenbara, above the Hiruzen Plateau. The lake supported an extensive population of diatoms for nearly 50,000 years, and Diatomaceous soil on the plain reaches 100 metres (330 ft) deep in some areas. Lake Hiruzenbara was gradually eroded on its eastern perimeter by the Asahi River, and dried up and disappeared over time.^[8]

After Daisen, Hiruzen is the most visited mountain in the region, bordering on Tottori Prefecture.^[2] Hiruzen is a popular hiking destination. All three peaks are suitable for beginning climbers. The summit of Kamihiruzen and Nakahiruzen can be reached in approximately two hours, and Shimohiruzen in one hour and forty minutes, with a ridge trail leading across all three peaks taking roughly 10–12 hours from ascent to descent.^[6]

• Shiogama Reisen (Cold Spring)
• Hiruzen Jersey Land^[13]
• Hiruzen Winery
  • A small winery that uses local wild mountain grapes to produce its wines. Has won various awards.
• Hiruzen Herb Garden "Herbill"
  • With hundreds of species of flowers and herbs, this garden is most well known for its lavender, which blooms during the month of July, and English-style garden roses, the English theme of which it carries to part of its menu, providing Cream Tea and imported British teas. Covered in snow during the Winter months, Herbill opens between April and December.
• Oomiya Obon Dance
  • Designated an Intangible Important Cultural Property, this dance has a long history spanning back hundreds of years. The dance takes place multiple times during August, at various Shrines throughout Hiruzen.

• Hiruzen Highland
• Hiruzen-kogen Highlands