Mt. Kisokoma-gatake hiking & climbing route

Route Guide

A trail starts from Kogara trailhead, where the parking lot is located. Soon it will come to a three-way junction. Take the left path to the Mt. Chausu-yama course. A bridge to cross Syouzawa river is reached after a while. A hanging bridge was used here but it got washed away. Since then, a log bridge is used; however, this log bridge often gets washed away. If that’s the case, return to the trail and change to the Fukushima B course, which is supposed to be used as the descending route from Mt. Kisokoma-gatake. It takes about 7 hours 10 minutes to the summit.

After crossing the bridge, the trail climbs up the steep slope through a larch forest. Walk at a steady pace. From Gogou-me, the trail gets onto a ridgeline. The slope continues to be steep and the forest is deep so there is no great view. When the tree growth is stunted, Mt. Chausu-dake is reached.

Fukushima B course, which will be used for descending, can be spotted below your feet. You can tell that the route is the descending route as it is also a steep slope. From Mt. Chyusu-yama, the trail takes a lead to the south. At the Chausu-yama junction, the trial becomes less steep. A trail from Katsura-syouba merges at the junction. It takes about 40 minutes to Nishikoma-sanso Mountain hut. It is recommended to stay the night here. You need to make a reservation at the hut in advance. Around the hut, Dicentra can be admired.

Start early on the next day. Pass the monument to the mountain tragedy, known in a novel by Jiro Nitta, “Seisyoku-no-hi”. This is the monument for 11 junior high school students who died in a mountain tragedy in 1913. Follow the ridgeline which is a gradual slope like the back of a horse. A great view can be seen under nice weather conditions. After a short steep slope, Mt. Kisokoma-gatake is reached. It can be crowded with many hikers on a sunny day, however the summit is a wide open space so you may easily find a resting place.

Start early on the next day. Pass the monument to the mountain tragedy, known in a novel by Jiro Nitta, “Seisyoku-no-hi”. This is the monument for 11 junior high school students who died in a mountain tragedy in 1913. Follow the ridgeline which is a gradual slope like the back of a horse. A great view can be seen under nice weather conditions. After a short steep slope, Mt. Kisokoma-gatake is reached. It can be crowded with many hikers on a sunny day, however the summit is a wide open space so you may easily find a resting place.

From the summit, descend to Kiso-koya Mountain hut. The trail leads to the front of Tamano-kubao sanso Mountain hut. Turn right then head to Nanagou-me emergency shelter. Till the shelter, the trail is shared with Fukushima A course. At the shelter, the trail separates from Fukushima A course. Descend the trail on your right. A trail covered by the deep forest will have no view. There will be a place to replenish water, known as Chikara-mizu, just ahead of Gogou-me. After a short downhill, the trail merges with a logged road, which leads to Kogara trailhead.