Mt. Medake

Mount Nijō(二上山, Nijōzan) is a mountain in the Kongō Range straddling the prefectural border between Taishi, Osaka and Katsuragi, Nara in Japan. Mount Nijō has twin peaks, Odake (517m) and Medake (474m). From the top there are sweeping views of Nara's basin, Osaka plain and Osaka bay.

Mount Nijō is located along the Minami Osaka Line of the Kintetsu Railway and is accessible on several different hiking trails on all sides of varying difficulty and length. The mountain forms part of the diamond trail, which is a 45 km-long trail running along the Kongō mountain range separating Nara, Osaka and Wakayama Prefectures. Heading south along the diamond trail is Mount Yamato Katsuragi (about 8.6 km) and Mount Kongō (about 14.1 km).

According to the Man'yōshū, Mount Nijō was known as ‘Futakamiyama’ which means twin mountains. This mountain is worshipped by local people as a gateway to heaven. Mt Nijō was an active volcano millions of years ago. As a result of the eruptions it distributed igneous rock, sanukite, tuff and emery powder. Remnants of its eruptions can be seen at Donzurubō towards the north of Mount Nijō.