Utsukushi-gahara hiking & climbing route

Route Guide

If you take a bus, start from Utsukushi-gahara Kogen Museum. If you drive, park at Yamamoto-koya Mountain hut parking lot and start from the lot. There is a gradual uphill from the museum to Yamamoto-koya Mountain hut, however, it is not a hard trail to walk on. From the hut, walk towards the Ohgahara area. A symbolic tower of Utsukushi-gahara, Utukushi-no-tou can be seen on your right. The tower becomes a land mark especially when the area becomes foggy. Shiokure-ba is reached shortly. A long time ago, shio (Japanese for salt), was placed on a big rock for cows to lick it for sickness prevention. A radio tower comes into sight if you follow the path. After passing a hotel, Ohgato is reached. From here, head towards Ohgahana. The trail becomes slightly steeper. Ohgahana is a rocky place. The southside of the trail is a cliff so caution must be employed. When bumpers appear on the pavement, Utsukushi-gahara Nature Preserve Center is reached. Information about nature in Utsukushi-gahara is displayed nicely. Return by the same trail you just walked. Shortly the trail leading to the mountains appears. Take a right here and enter the Alps lookout course. The atmosphere of the high altitude mountains can be enjoyed along the course. Shiokure-ba is reached after passing the junction of Sanjiro and another junction of Mt. Chausu-yama. Descend the same trail used for ascending to Utsukushi-gahara Kogen Museum via Yamamoto-koya Mountain hut.