Mt. Momisawa

Mt. Momisawa (樅沢岳, 2,755 m), on the border of Takayama (Gifu) and Omachi (Nagano) in the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps), is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
It rises just north of the Sugoroku hut at the start of the Nishikama ridge to Mt. Yari. The summit is a superb viewpoint looking across the Nishikama ridge to Mt. Yari, and it is an easy 40 minutes from the Sugoroku hut. The usual route climbs the Koike Shindo from Shin-Hotaka Onsen, with a night at the Sugoroku hut, climbing the summit and back. By public transport you reach Shin-Hotaka Onsen and climb the Koike Shindo.

The base is Shin-Hotaka Onsen (about 1,090 m); from the Wasabidaira hut on the Hidari-mata forest road you take the Koike Shindo and pass Kagamidaira (Kagamidaira Sanso) and the Yumiori-norikoshi to the Sugoroku hut (about 2,550 m). It is about 7 hours from Shin-Hotaka Onsen to the Sugoroku hut and about 40 minutes from there to the summit of Mt. Momisawa, usually with a night at the Kagamidaira Sanso or the Sugoroku hut. The Koike Shindo is a well-maintained, easy-to-walk path, but the gain is large and the climb to Kagamidaira is long.
Use the Sugoroku hut (open July 10–October 20, 2026, reservations only, tel 090-3480-0434 [7:00–19:00 in season]) as a base. The season is mid-July to early October once the snow has gone; before that, front-point crampons and an ice axe are needed. The Nishikama ridge from Mt. Momisawa to Mt. Yari is an advanced traverse of chains and narrow crests and is outside the scope of this article.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (trailhead)
2. [Return] Shin-Hotaka Onsen (trailhead) → Takayama

1. [Outbound] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (trailhead)

The Hida-side base is the Takayama Nohi Bus Center in front of JR Takayama Station; from here take the Nohi Bus via Hirayu Onsen to the Shinhotaka Ropeway (Shin-Hotaka Onsen) — fare 2,200 yen. Hirayu Onsen is the transfer hub; you can also reach Shin-Hotaka Onsen from Matsumoto via Shin-Shimashima and Sawando (Matsumoto–Shin-Hotaka Onsen 3,910 yen, by reservation). From the Shin-Hotaka Onsen bus stop, walk the Hidari-mata forest road to the Koike Shindo trailhead.

Bus timetable ①: Takayama Nohi BC → Shinhotaka Ropeway (Nohi Bus, outbound)

Trailhead: from Shin-Hotaka Onsen it is about 1 hour along the Hidari-mata forest road to the Wasabidaira hut, with the Koike Shindo trailhead just beyond. By car: use the hikers’ car parks at Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Nabedaira Kogen and others).

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

2. [Return] Shin-Hotaka Onsen (trailhead) → Takayama

After descending, take the Nohi Bus from Shin-Hotaka Onsen back to the Takayama Nohi Bus Center. The last bus to Takayama leaves around 18:35, so keep margin on the long descent from Mt. Momisawa and the Sugoroku hut. The Koike Shindo descent is slippery on its paved stones, so set off early with time to spare for the last bus.

Bus timetable ②: Shinhotaka Ropeway → Takayama Nohi BC (Nohi Bus, return)

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

Route and safety notes

Route (Koike Shindo): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Wasabidaira hut (about 1 h) → Koike Shindo trailhead → Kagamidaira / Kagamidaira Sanso (about 3 h 30 m) → Yumiori-norikoshi (about 1 h) → Sugoroku hut (about 1 h 30 m) → Mt. Momisawa (about 40 m). It is about 7 hours from Shin-Hotaka Onsen to the Sugoroku hut and about 7 h 40 m to the summit, with a night at the Kagamidaira Sanso or the Sugoroku hut over one night and two days to two nights and three days.

Huts: below the ridge the Kagamidaira Sanso (open July 10–October 15, 2026, tel 090-1566-7559); on the ridge the Sugoroku hut (open July 10–October 20, 2026, reservations only, tel 090-3480-0434, with a campsite); near the trailhead the Wasabidaira hut (open July 10–October 20, 2026, tel 090-8074-7778). As Mt. Momisawa is just above the Sugoroku hut, a stay there is the natural base. Book through the Sugoroku hut group online.

The Koike Shindo: a well-maintained, paved, easy-to-walk path, but the climb to Kagamidaira is long with a large gain. From Kagamidaira a pond reflects the “upside-down Yari.” The descent is slippery on wet stone.

The climb of Mt. Momisawa: from the Sugoroku hut it is about 40 minutes up a pine slope, with few difficulties, so a stay at the hut makes an early-morning out-and-back easy. The summit is a fine viewpoint across the Nishikama ridge to Mt. Yari, a famous photo spot. There is no shelter, so take care in strong wind and lightning.

The Nishikama ridge (toward Mt. Yari): the Nishikama ridge from Mt. Momisawa to Mt. Yari is an advanced traverse with continuous chains, ladders and narrow crests. General hikers stay with the Mt. Momisawa out-and-back and do not go beyond.

Season and gear: the season is mid-July to early October; in the snow season front-point crampons and an ice axe are essential. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a helmet and a headlamp.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest via the Nagano and Gifu Northern Alps mountain-rescue councils.

Photo by Yasu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0