Mt. Kasagatake (笠ヶ岳)

Mt. Kasagatake (かさがたけ, 2,898m) is in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, within Chubu Sangaku National Park, an independent peak at the western edge of the Northern Alps, selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan. Located opposite the Yari-Hotaka range, its name (kasa = “umbrella hat”) matches its graceful conical silhouette visible from the Nishikama Ridge.

The Kasashindo course (from Shin-Hotaka Onsen, one of the steepest climbs in the Northern Alps) is the standard. Expert ★★★★★・distance ~18 km・elevation gain 2,256 m・action time ~14 hours (1 night 2 days at Kasagatake Sanso). Sunset views of the Yari-Hotaka range from Kasagatake Sanso (just below the summit) are among the finest in the Northern Alps.

*Timetable last checked: 2026年05月22日

Access to the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Takayama Station (JR via Nagoya limited express)
2. [Outbound / Return] Takayama Nohi Bus Center ⇔ Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Nohi Bus year-round)
3. Kasashindo course, Kasagatake Sanso, suggested plans

Course time (Kasashindo course, 1 night 2 days, Expert, ~14 hours)

Day 1 (~8 hr): Shin-Hotaka Onsen (1,100 m) → (1:00) → Kasashindo trailhead (1,360 m) → (4:30) → Shakushidaira (2,450 m, continuous steep climb) → (2:30) → Kasagatake Sanso (2,810 m, just below summit) overnight

Day 2 (~6 hr): Kasagatake Sanso → (0:30) → Mt. Kasagatake summit (2,898 m) → (5:30) → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (return via same route)

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Takayama Station (JR via Nagoya limited express)

Takayama Station (JR Takayama Main Line) is the gateway for Mt. Kasagatake. From Tokyo Station, take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi → Nagoya → JR Limited Express Hida approx. 4 hr 30 min・¥14,500. From Osaka via Shin-Osaka → Nagoya approx. 4 hr・¥13,000. From overseas, use Toyama Kitokito Airport or Komatsu Airport + connecting bus. The Matsumoto route (JR Chuo Line Limited Express Azusa → Matsumoto → Alpico bus to Shin-Hotaka Onsen) is also an option.

JR / airport reference :
Tokyo Stn → Takayama Stn : JR Nozomi + Limited Express Hida (via Nagoya) ~4 hr 30 min・¥14,500
Osaka Stn → Takayama Stn : JR Nozomi + Limited Express Hida (via Nagoya) ~4 hr・¥13,000
Shinjuku → Matsumoto : JR Limited Express Azusa ~2 hr 30 min・¥7,000 (for Matsumoto route)
Toyama Kitokito Airport → Takayama Stn : connecting bus + JR ~2 hr

Reference : JR Central ｜ Nohi Bus Shin-Hotaka Line
Contact : JR Takayama Station ☎0577-32-0405

2. [Outbound / Return] Takayama Nohi Bus Center ⇔ Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Nohi Bus year-round)

To reach the Kasashindo trailhead base Shin-Hotaka Onsen (terminus・in front of Shin-Hotaka Ropeway), take the Nohi Bus Hirayu / Shin-Hotaka Line from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center (in front of Takayama Station) approx. 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr・¥2,200・year-round operation・hourly frequency. Via Hirayu Onsen (¥910 from Hirayu). Private car: Shin-Hotaka Onsen climbers’ parking (P5 in front of Miyamaso, free, ~200 spaces, full in peak season) or Municipal Nabedaira climbers’ parking (paid ¥600/day, ~110 spaces). Bear spray prohibited inside the bus cabin (sealed in plastic bag, stowed in trunk); spiked boots must be changed before boarding.

Operating period : Year-round (some services seasonal 7/19 – 10/12), approx. hourly frequency
Travel time : Takayama Nohi Bus Center → Shin-Hotaka Ropeway ~1 hr 30 min – 2 hr
Fare : ¥2,200 (one-way)
Frequency : approx. hourly (first 6:00 – last around 17:00)

Takayama Nohi Bus Center → Shin-Hotaka Ropeway (Nohi Bus Hirayu / Shin-Hotaka Line, year-round, hiker excerpt)

Shin-Hotaka Ropeway → Takayama Bus Center (Nohi Bus, return, year-round)

Note : Operating period and timetable should always be pre-confirmed at the Nohi Bus official site PDF or NAVITIME. Reservation required only for users boarding at intermediate stops between Naka-Yakedake trailhead and Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Nohi Bus Takayama Office ☎0577-33-7780 by 18:00 the day before); boarding at Takayama or Hirayu Onsen requires no reservation. After descent, Shin-Hotaka Onsen “Nakasaki Sanso Okuhida-no-Yu” (day-use bath ¥900) or Higaku-no-Yu is recommended.

Reference : Nohi Bus Shin-Hotaka Line Official ｜ Nohi Bus route list
Contact : Nohi Bus Takayama Office ☎0577-33-7780 / Kasagatake Sanso ☎090-7020-5666

3. Kasashindo course, Kasagatake Sanso, suggested plans

About Mt. Kasagatake
At 2,898 m in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, within Chubu Sangaku National Park, an independent peak at the western edge of the Northern Alps. Selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan. Located opposite the Yari-Hotaka range, its name comes from its graceful conical “umbrella hat” silhouette. From the summit, a 360° panorama gazes directly across at the Yari-Hotaka range; sunsets over the Yari-Hotaka from Kasagatake Sanso are among the finest scenes in the Northern Alps.

Trail overview (2 main courses)

• Kasashindo course (from Shin-Hotaka Onsen, standard, Expert, ~14 hr, 1 night 2 days) : Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Kasashindo trailhead → Shakushidaira (continuous steep climb) → Kasagatake Sanso → summit round trip; one of the Northern Alps’ toughest climbs
• Kuriya-dani course (from Torikane, Expert, many stream crossings): Minor route, for experienced hikers; trail conditions require verification
• (Traverse) Mt. Sugoroku — Mt. Kasagatake traverse: Via Sugoroku Hut, 2-3 nights recommended

Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– Kasagatake Sanso (2,810 m, just below summit, ☎090-7020-5666): Open July 10 – October 11, 2026・reservation only, 1 night with 2 meals ¥16,000・room-only ¥11,000・tent ¥2,000/person + ¥1,000/site, dormitory style, reservations open June 1 at 9:00
– Shin-Hotaka Onsen “Nakasaki Sanso Okuhida-no-Yu” (day-use bath ¥900)・Higaku-no-Yu (post-descent)
– Miyamaso (Shin-Hotaka Onsen, climbing base)・Shin-Hotaka Onsen climbers’ parking (P5 in front of Miyamaso): free, ~200 spaces・Municipal Nabedaira climbers’ parking: ¥600/day, ~110 spaces

Climbing season / flora: Early July to early October. July: hakusan-ichige, chinguruma, kobaikei-so mass colonies at Shakushidaira, many rock ptarmigan sightings. August-September: alpine plants, sky-blue ridges. Late September to October: autumn colors. Snow remains in the Shakushidaira cirque until early July.

Cautions
– Kasashindo is 1,700 m elevation-gain steep climb: Among Northern Alps’ toughest, day hike not feasible
– Kasagatake Sanso reservation only: No walk-ins; reservations open June 1
– Limited water sources: Only Shin-Hotaka Onsen, Kasashindo stream, Kasagatake Sanso; carry at least 2 L
– Bear spray prohibited in bus cabin: Sealed in plastic bag, stowed in trunk
– Weather changes rapidly: Northern Alps ridge — thunder, hypothermia precautions

Emergency contacts / inquiries

• Takayama City Office (Shin-Hotaka Onsen): ☎0577-32-3333 / Hida Police Station (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0577-32-0110
• Kasagatake Sanso (reservations / inquiries): ☎090-7020-5666
• Nohi Bus Takayama Office: ☎0577-33-7780 / Takayama Station Tourist Information: ☎0577-32-5328
• Shin-Hotaka Visitor Center Sanraku-kan: ☎0578-89-2614

Suggested plans (Kasashindo course, 1 night 2 days at Kasagatake Sanso, recommended, standard)

• 1 night 2 days at Kasagatake Sanso (recommended, standard): Day 1 Tokyo 6:00 → Takayama Stn 11:00 → bus → Shin-Hotaka Onsen 12:30 → Kasashindo trailhead 13:30 → Shakushidaira 17:00 → Kasagatake Sanso 18:30 overnight (sunset Yari-Hotaka). Day 2 summit 5:30 (sunrise, 360° view) → descent → Shin-Hotaka Onsen 12:00 → bath → return
• 2 nights 3 days, Sugoroku – Kasagatake traverse (for strong hikers): Day 1 Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Sugoroku Hut overnight. Day 2 Mt. Sugoroku → Kasagatake Sanso overnight. Day 3 summit → descent → return

Reference : Kasagatake Sanso Official ｜ Nohi Bus Shin-Hotaka Line

Photo by Alpsdake