Important Mountains

Question 1

Taisetsu Volcanic Group

Answer 1

Located right in the center of Hokkaido and the source of the Ishikari River which flows to Sapporo and Asahikawa before emptying in the Ishikari Bay (just north of Sapporo)

Question 2

Hakkoda Mountains

Answer 2

Aomori - snow melt flows via the Oirase River providing breweries such as Momokawa Shuzo with pure water for brewing.

Question 3

Ou Mountains

Answer 3

Form the North/South spine of Tohoku stretching from sothern Aomori down to Fukushima. The range bisects the area with Akita on the north west, Iwate on the north east, Yamagata on the south west, and Miyagi on the south east. Snowmelt flows into the Kitakami basin and Kitakami River (Japan’s fourth longest).

Question 4

Mount Chokai

Answer 4

Volcano located on the border between Akita and Yamagata. Important source of water for brewers.

Question 5

Dewasansan Mountains

Answer 5

Yamagata - culturally important as the origin of mountain worship in Japan. Comprised of Gassan-san in the north, Haguro-san (central Yamagata, near the Dewasansan shrine) and Yudono-san (southern Yamagata). The mountains are the source of the important Mogami “Mother” River which feeds the Shonai plain.

Question 6

Hida Mountains

Answer 6

aka the Northern Alps, stretches out in a Y-shape through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu.

Question 7

Mount Hakusan

Answer 7

Located in Ishikawa, this is an important source of water for brewers. Also, this is the first GI awarded for sake, in 2005.

Question 8

Mount Fuji

Answer 8

Japan’s most iconic mountain, located on the border of Shizuoka and Yamansashi. Important source of water for brewers in the area, the volcanic rock filters and purifies water.

Question 9

Akaishi Mountains

Answer 9

aka the Southern Alps, borders Nagano, Shizuoka, and Yamanashi. Akaishi derives from the red stones found in the Akaishi River and Mt. Akaishi.

Question 10

Mount Rokko

Answer 10

Most important peak in Hyogo, the Rokko mountains are an important source of water for Nada and Hyogo brewers. They also allow for the cultivation of Gohyakumangoku (a wase strain) in northern Hyogo, an area that would typically be considered an okute area.

Question 11

Kiso Mountains

Answer 11

aka the Central Alps

Question 12

Chugoku Range

Answer 12

Neatly bisect Chugoku with Shimane and Tottori in the north and Hiroshima and Okayama in the south.

Question 13

Mount Ishizushi

Answer 13

The largest mountain in Shikoku

Question 14

Mount Aso

Answer 14

The largest mountain in Kyushu