6 km, range 900m). The Kakougen route is hard to follow, and around the Kakouheki route, beware of falling rocks. Kawakami mountain entrance route (川上登山口) (Kawakami mountain entrance → Kakougen → Kushigamine Col → Koubou Shimizu → mountain peak, duration: 4 hours, 7 km, range: 1100m) The Kawakami Spa mountain entrance is out of use, and the route is unclear before joining with that of the Urabandai course. Shibutani mountain entrance route (渋谷登山口) (Family Snow Park Bandai x2 mountain entrance → Biwasawa route → Numano-daira → Koubou Shimizu → mountain peak, duration: 3 hours 40 minutes, 7 km, range: 1200m). In the summer season, the route is unclear due to the proliferation of grass. Due to its lack of usage, it is referred to as the ‘Forest of Animals’. Over 80% of summer climbers make use of the Happou mountain entrance route, which is located midway through the Bandai Golden Line (toll road). A source of potable water, the Kogane Shimizu, is located partway through the Inawashiro, Urabandai B, Kawakami, and Shibutani routes, and is located 45 minutes from the mountain peak at 1500m above sea level. Another source of potable water, at the Koubou Shimizu, is passable by all routes except the Okinajima route. It is located 30 minutes from the peak, and its altitude is 1630m above sea level. There are 2 shops at Koubou shimizu, which are open from early May to early October, and sell souvenirs, drinks and snacks, but are not accommodations. There are also restrooms, which are rented by the shopkeepers for ¥300. This stop is used also for checking routes and rest. Due to the spillover effect, 1-seg signal for Yamagata-television and major four commercial broadcasting of Niigata prefecture can be received from the top of the mountain. The gentle slope along West Bantetsu line from near the Okina-jima station to Hirota station was formed by pyroclastic and non-pyroclastic flow of multiple eruptions over past years. The Goshiki-numa was created as a result of volcanic mud flow on Urabandai area from the 1888 eruption, and it carry away the large rock, called Mine-no-Ooishi, to its end of the north sector of the Iwashiro city. See also 100 Famous Japanese Mountains List of volcanoes in Japan Notes References External links – Japan Meteorological Agency Bandaisan – Smithsonian Institution: Global Volcanism Program Bandaisan Geopark Climbing routes – Inawashiro Tourist Association Mountains of Fukushima Prefecture Volcanoes