Hiruzen

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 / 35.32500°N 133.66361°E / 35.32500; 133.66361Coordinates: 35°19′30″N 133°39′49″E / 35.32500°N 133.66361°E / 35.32500; 133.66361
Naming
Pronunciation	Japanese: [çiɾɯzeɴ]
Geography
Hiruzen Okayama Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture
Parent range	Chūgoku Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking

Hiruzen (蒜山), or Hiruzensanza (蒜山三座), is a mountain located on the border of Okayama and Tottori prefectures on the main island of Honshu in Japan. Hiruzen consists of three peaks of similar elevation, the highest being Mt. Kamihiruzen (Hiruzen (上蒜山)) at 1,202 m (3,944 ft). The Hiruzen Plateau, also called the Hiruzen Highland, is located entirely in Okayama Prefecture, and has an elevation of 500 metres (0.31 mi) to 600 metres (0.37 mi). Hiruzen is an important part of the Daisen-Oki National Park.

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

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

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.