The 3rd Hosono Highlands Yamayaki Experience 🏔 What Hosono Highlands Is Like 🏔 Hosono Highlands spreads across the slopes of Mt. Amagi, which erupted between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago. The plateau covers about 125 hectares—roughly the size of 26 Tokyo Domes—and offers a majestic expanse of grassland. It is said to be a treasure trove of flora and fauna nurtured by volcanic terrain. In spring, you can forage for mountain vegetables such as bracken amid fresh greenery. In autumn, vast stands of golden susuki (silver grass) create a spectacular display. From the summit you can see Sagami Bay and the Izu Islands, where meadow and seascape combine into a unique panorama. Inatori Hosono Highlands has been recognized among the 100 Grassland Villages We Want to Preserve for the Future for the value of local knowledge, awareness, and skills accumulated through long interaction between people and nature. Hosono Highlands conducts an annual yamayaki (controlled burn) to maintain the grassland. During walks you can observe grass-cutting work performed in preparation for the burn. ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ 🔥⛰ What “Yamayaki” Means ⛰🔥 Yamayaki is an essential annual practice to keep Hosono Highlands as open grassland. By burning overgrown grasses and shrubs, the area is prevented from turning into forest, and the burned vegetation returns nutrients to the soil to sustain a rich grassland. This yamayaki has continued every year at Hosono Highlands since the Edo period. Because the plateau borders neighboring Kawazu Town, preventing fire from spreading across boundaries is critical, and the work must address elevation changes and steep slopes, so seasoned experience and advanced fire-management know-how are required. ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ● Event Overview Yamayaki is an activity necessary to keep Hosono Highlands as grassland and has continued annually since the Edo period. As a first trial in February 2023, we opened the yamayaki on a very limited basis and offered it as a guided tour for observation. To help more people learn about this tradition in greater depth, we will hold the Yamayaki Experience again in 2025. Please come and witness the overwhelming sight of the landscape ablaze. ● Event Schedule — Saturday, February 8, 2025 Date and time: Saturday, 2/8, 10:30–15:30 (scheduled) 10:30: Assemble and register at Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2 11:00: Yamayaki viewing (guided yamayaki explanation, lunch provided) 14:00: Post-yamayaki walk (guided) 15:30: End of program and dismissal (Program order may change depending on yamayaki progress; please understand in advance.) Meeting/registration location: Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2 (parking spaces available) ➡ On the day of the yamayaki, general vehicles are not allowed into Parking Lot No. 1. Please park at the foothill Parking Lot No. 2. There is no public transportation to the venue. Please use your own means of transport to access the site. Participation Conditions ・Capacity is limited to 30 participants. ・Participants who are junior high school age or younger must be accompanied by a guardian. ・Please apply only if you fully understand the safety notes and on-site hazards. Participation Fee 3,500 yen per person. Includes admission, consumption tax, local guide, lunch, insurance, and grassland management fee (1,000 yen). ※The participation fee is payable on site on the day of the event. ※We will contact you by email in advance and on the day about the event. Please note you cannot apply without an email address. How to Apply Please apply by entering the required information on the Higashiizu Town Tourist Association event page. https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot Or call the Higashiizu Tourist Association (TEL: 0557-95-0700) to register by phone. ● Notes and Precautions About Participation in Work This event is for observing the yamayaki. You may not take part in fire-starting or other operational tasks. Cancellation Decisions Yamayaki may be canceled on the morning of the event due to weather conditions (wind, humidity, rain, etc.). If yamayaki is canceled, this event will also be canceled. There are no substitute events. Please register only if you accept these cancellation conditions. What to Wear on the Day Yamayaki is a very dangerous operation, and flying embers or smoldering debris may be present. Please wear flame-resistant clothing with minimal exposed skin. All activities at the site are outdoors, so please prepare for cold weather. Guide Language Guidance is provided in Japanese only. Thank you for your understanding. Cancellation Policy If the event is canceled or you cancel, we will charge cancellation fees as follows. If yamayaki itself is canceled due to severe weather (strong wind, dry conditions, rain, etc.), no payment will be charged. If you cancel for personal reasons: ・Cancellation on the day or the day before → 100% of the event fee will be charged. ・Cancellation two days or more before → 0% cancellation fee. ・No-show without notice → 100% of the event fee will be charged. *We may also claim actual communication costs or other damages where applicable. For cancellations due to unavoidable events such as disasters, please contact the organizer. If the organizer cancels for reasons other than weather, we will consult with participants and refund an appropriate amount. Items to Bring ・Flame-resistant (fire-retardant) and warm clothing ・Clothes you don’t mind getting stained by sparks or soot ・Well-broken-in shoes https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot