Mount Naka Katsuragi

Mount Naka Katsuragi (中葛城山) is a mountain in the Kongō Range to the south of Mount Kongō, rising to an elevation of 937.7 m. The mountain is situated between Chihayaakasaka, Osaka and Gojō, Nara in Japan. It is known for its trails being generally easy for most hikers, and for its stands of Japanese cedar and large fields of bamboo grass.

Despite being just off the popular Diamond Trail, most hikers bypass the mountain as they go between Mount Kongō to the north and Mount Jinpuku to the southwest. The summit is accessible via multiple routes from all sides of the mountain, and most hikes take about 90 minutes.

Location
Mount Naka Katsuragi is a 937.7 m (though the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan shows 937.6 meters, most other sources show 937.7) mountain located within Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park, about 3 km almost directly south of Mount Kongō. Despite being very close to Mount Kongō, and being on the Diamond Trail, there are fewer serious mountain climbers.

Environs
On the Osaka side, extensive reforestation efforts of Japanese cedar and bamboo grass (Sasa veitchii) have taken place, but they have produced mixed results.

On the approach to the summit on the Gojō side, various shrubs and large fields of Sasa veitchii grow everywhere due to the lack of tall trees blocking out the sunlight. In the middle of all the sasa fields is a class 3 triangulation station (the name of the station is Kitayama (北山)).

Access and amenities
The trails on the mountain generally rise in elevation fairly slowly, so the mountain is popular with recreational hikers. About 100 m northeast of Mount Naka Katsuragi on the Diamond Trail is Kuruno Pass (久留野峠) (elevation 890 m), and while the vertical distance is only about 60 m, the ascent is extremely steep and a difficult climb for those with little mountaineering experience.

The peak is just off the Diamond Trail, a 50 km hiking trail centered on Mount Kongō. Even though it has many hikers traversing by its peak, most bypass Mount Naka Katsuragi on the way to Mount Jinpuku and Kimi Pass (紀見峠) after ascending to the base of Mount Kongō via the Mount Kongo Ropeway.

There are two routes from Gojō, each taking about 90 minutes: one via Kuruno Pass from Owa-chō (小和町), and a route from Kuruno-chō (久留野町) which is shorter in distance but rises more steeply.

Cell service is available at the summit. The closest toilet facilities are north on the Diamond Trail about 35 minutes, halfway to Mount Kongō at Fukumi Pass (伏見峠).