Mt. Anpeiji (安平路山, 2,363 m), on the border of Iida in Nagano and Okuwa in Kiso, is one of the 200 Famous Japanese Mountains.
At the far south of the Central Alps, its appeal is the quiet ridge covered in Shinano bamboo grass, the deep terrain with few people, and the grand view from Mt. Surikogi. It is usually climbed from the Surikogi Nature Park rest hut, and it is an advanced route of continuous bamboo thicket over Mt. Surikogi and Mt. Shirabiso to Mt. Anpeiji.
There is no public transport to the trailhead, so a taxi from the nearest station or a car is the norm. The nearest station is Iida on the JR Iida Line. You take a taxi from Iida Station to Odaira-juku, then go on via the Higashizawa forest road to the trailhead.
The trailhead is the Surikogi Nature Park rest hut (about 1,790 m). The standard route is Surikogi Nature Park rest hut → Mt. Surikogi → Mt. Shirabiso → Mt. Anpeiji, out and back, with a standard time of about 8–9 hours. A strong hiker can do it in a day, but it is an advanced route for which a night out should also be considered. Beyond Mt. Surikogi, chest-high Shinano bamboo grass hides the path and there are sections where it is easy to lose the way.
The Higashizawa forest road to the trailhead is in extremely poor condition, so unless you have an off-road vehicle it is safer to walk from Odaira-juku. Also, the Odaira-kaido (Pref. Route 8) leading to Odaira-juku is closed in winter from early December to mid-April. The best season is late May to October; beware of losing the way in the bamboo and of sudden weather changes. Always check the latest forest-road and trail conditions in advance.
*Last checked: June 6, 2026
How to access the trailheads
1. [Round trip] Iida Station → Odaira-juku → Surikogi Nature Park rest hut (trailhead)
The base is Iida Station on the JR Iida Line. There is no local bus to the trailhead, so a taxi or a car is the standard option.
① Iida Station → Odaira-juku (taxi)
From Iida Station to Odaira-juku is about 1 hour and about ¥8,000 by taxi. No taxis wait there, so booking both the outbound and return rides in advance is essential. As the day is long, arrange the pickup with plenty of margin.
― Asahi Kotsu 0265-22-1616
― Daiichi Kanko Taxi 0265-22-5050
② Odaira-juku → Surikogi Nature Park rest hut (Higashizawa forest road)
From Odaira-juku to the trailhead you go on the Higashizawa forest road, but it is in extremely poor condition and hard to pass without an off-road vehicle. Ordinary cars and taxis should go only as far as Odaira-juku, and beyond that it is safer to walk (where you can drive to the no-entry point, there is space for a few cars). There is parking for about 5 cars beside the hut.
Inquiries: For forest-road and road information, check with the Iida City Tourism Section (0265-22-4511). The Odaira-kaido is closed in winter from early December to mid-April.
Source: [Yamakei Online, Odaira-juku] / [Shinshu Mountain Guide, Mt. Anpeiji]
Route and safety notes
Route: Surikogi Nature Park rest hut → Mt. Surikogi (2,169 m) → Mt. Shirabiso → Mt. Anpeiji (2,363 m), out and back. The standard time is about 8–9 hours, an advanced route in deep terrain with continuous bamboo thicket. From Mt. Surikogi the grand view of the Central and Southern Alps opens up.
Bamboo and route-finding: From Mt. Surikogi toward Mt. Anpeiji, chest-high Shinano bamboo grass hides the path and it is easy to lose the trail. On days of poor visibility take particular care, and check your position often with a map and GPS.
Forest road and season: The Higashizawa forest road is rough and can be closed after heavy rain. Check the weather and forest-road conditions not only for the day but for the preceding several days. The best season is late May to October.
Water and gear: As reliable water sources are few, carry plenty of water. Do not forget rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS and food.
Emergencies: In an accident or emergency, call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
・Iida Police Station 0265-22-0110
Photo by Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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