Mt. Yari-gatake hiking & climbing route

Route Guide

Start from the Shin-hotaka Ropeway Bus stop and take a right. Pass by the Shin-hotaka Ropeway station then enter the Kamata-gawa-migimata logging road. After passing Hotaka-daira, where a meadow spreads, you will reach Shirodashi-sawa-déai. A logging road ends here. Cross Shirodashi-sawa on a graveled trail. This area of the trail is covered by forest and there will be no wide view.

When the trail comes closer to the river, Takitani-déai will be reached shortly. Otaki Falls can be seen in a narrow valley. A relief of Kuzou Fujiki covers the rock on the right after crossing Takitani. He is the first rock climber who climbed Takitani. It takes about one hour from here to Yari-daira koya mountain hut. It is recommended to stay for a night here.

Start Day 2 early. Take a trail along the mountain’s foothills on the left side of the river. Cross a dried stream then walk pass a coniferous forest zone. A place to replenish water is reached and after this point, the trail becomes very steep. After climbing the steep slope, the trail gets flatter once. Continue to hike up the dried stream to Senjo-nokkoshi Junction. The trail becomes a large slope. The main ridgeline will look down on you from high above your head. Climb at a steady pace.

A field full of flowers will spread forth before you. Shinano-kinbai or Hakusan-ichige might make you forget about the challenging steep slope. Climb up in a zigzag pattern. Hida-nokkoshi is reached just as the trail becomes full of unstable rocks.

Take a left to Yari-no-kata. The slope becomes steep but it should not take too long to reach Mt. Yari-gatake sanso Mountain hut on the shoulder of Mt. Yari-gatake. Check in at the hut then challenge the summit. Climb up the rocky trail using chains and ladders. The summit is narrow but the view is spectacular. Follow a descending route to hike down.