Mount Tsurugi to Mount Jirogyu Ridge Traverse

This traverse extends the standard Mount Tsurugi route by continuing along the ridge to Mount Jirogyu, sharing the same trailhead access as the summit trail: the Minokoshi chairlift, reached by bus from JR Awa-Ikeda Station or by private car via Route 438 to the paid parking area. From the summit of Mount Tsurugi (1,955 m), the ridge path drops slightly and undulates southwest toward Mount Jirogyu (1,930 m), covering roughly 8 km round trip with 4 to 5 hours of hiking time. The ridge stays above 1,850 m for most of its length, meaning the whole traverse is exposed to wind, sun, and afternoon weather with little shade. Technical difficulty is greater than the standard summit trail: the path narrows in places, crosses rocky sections that require careful footing, and demands sustained fitness rather than technical scrambling. The surface alternates between packed dirt, exposed rock, and short sasa-lined sections. Notable landmarks include the Mount Tsurugi summit boardwalk, the saddle between the two peaks, and open viewpoints over the Iya Valley to the south. The Tsurugisan-Chojo Hutte near the Tsurugi summit is the only shelter along the route; there is no water source once past the chairlift top station, so hikers should carry all water for the traverse. Turning around at the Tsurugi summit shortens the outing to the standard route if weather deteriorates.