Mt. Arakawa

Mt. Arakawa (荒川岳) is a collective name for three peaks in the central Southern Alps: Maedake, Nakadake, and Warusawadake (Higashidake).
The highest peak, Warusawadake (Higashidake), sits about halfway between Mt. Shiomi and Mt. Akaishi at 3,141m, the sixth-highest peak in Japan, and is counted among the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

For Mt. Arakawa, a loop course from the Sawarajima trailhead including Mt. Akaishi is standard.
If you stay one night (two meals included) at Nikenkoya Lodge, the shuttle bus can take you all the way to the Nikenkoya Trailhead, the closest trailhead to Mt. Arakawa.

This is a remote mountain area deep in the southern Southern Alps, but during the season conditional access from the Tokyo area by bus is possible.

For access from the Toribakura Trailhead, see the Mt. Shiomi page.

⚠ 2026 Season Information — Important Updates

The timetable below is older information from 2019. The current main access for the 2026 season is as follows:

Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus (Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot ⇔ Sawarajima Lodge): Scheduled to operate July 11 – October 12, 2026. Stay at a partner mountain hut is required (Sawarajima Lodge / Akaishi-goya / Senmai-goya / Arakawa-goya / Hyakkenbora Yama-no-Ie / Nikenkoya Lodge, etc.); tent camping is not eligible; cooperation fee ¥3,000 (offset against lodging fees). Reservation required: 0547-46-1551. Official timetable.
Shizutetsu Just Line “Southern Alps Climbing Line” (Shizuoka Station ⇔ Hatanagi Daiichi Dam): In FY2025 operated daily from July 12 – August 17 (Shizuoka Station 10:00 → Hatanagi 13:20; return Hatanagi 14:30 → Shizuoka Station 17:50; about 3 hours 20 minutes). 2026 operating information is scheduled for release in early June — verify on the Shizutetsu official site.
Mainichi Alpen-go (Takebashi / Hachioji → Hatanagi): Verify the 2026 operating information on the Maitabi official site.
Chiyoda Taxi Southern Alps Access Pack has changed form and is currently converted to private taxi / hire-style transfer.

For the 2026 season, please wait for the official information release before planning.

*Timetable last checked: May 17, 2026
How to access the trailheads

[Going] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Sawarajima
[Going] Shizuoka Station → Sawarajima
[Return] Sawarajima → Shinjuku Station
[Return] Sawarajima → Shizuoka Station

Hiking Course Details — Mt. Arakawa

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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Arakawa

1. [Going] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Sawarajima Lodge

Step 1. Takebashi Station → Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot
From Takebashi Station or Hachioji Station in Tokyo, take the Mainichi Alpen-go “Hatanagi Dam / Ikawa direction” service and get off at the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot. (Reservation required)
Reference: Operating period: selected days from 2019 July 11 – 2019 October 12
Fare: from ¥15,500
Travel time: about 7 hours (overnight)

Mainichi Alpen-go
Takebashi Station Dep.	Hachioji Station Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
23:00	0:15	5:50

Step 2. Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot → Sawarajima Lodge
At the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot, transfer to the bus operated by “Tokushu Tokai Forest Co., Ltd.” and get off at Sawarajima Lodge. (Reservation required)
Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus

The bus operated by Tokai Forest is a shuttle bus to each mountain hut, so a stay at a partner mountain hut is required (tent camping not eligible).

Travel time: about 1 hour

Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus
Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot	Sawarajima Lodge
7:30	8:30

2. [Going] Shizuoka Station → Sawarajima Lodge

Step 1. Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot

Southern Alps Climbing Line

From Shizuoka Station, take the Shizutetsu Bus “Southern Alps Climbing Line” and get off at the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot. (Reservation required)
Reference: Operating period: July 13 – August 25, 2019
Fare: ¥3,100
Travel time: about 3 hours 10 minutes

Southern Alps Climbing Line
Shizuoka Station Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
10:00	13:10

Southern Alps Access Pack

From Shizuoka Station, take the Chiyoda Taxi “Southern Alps Access Pack” and get off at the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot. (Reservation required)
Reference: Scheduled operating days: July 13 – August 26, 2019
Fare: ¥4,800
Capacity: 8 persons per service (minimum 3 persons combined entry/descent)

Southern Alps Access Pack
Shizuoka Station Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
11:00	14:15

The bus operated by Tokai Forest is a shuttle bus to each mountain hut, so a stay at a partner mountain hut is required (tent camping not eligible).

Travel time: about 1 hour

Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus
Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Dep.	Sawarajima Lodge Arr.
14:30	15:30

3. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shinjuku Station

Step 1. Sawarajima Lodge → Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot
From Sawarajima Lodge, take the bus operated by “Tokushu Tokai Forest Co., Ltd.” and get off at the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot. (Reservation required)
Reference: Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus

The bus operated by Tokai Forest is a shuttle bus to each mountain hut, so a stay at a partner mountain hut is required (tent camping not eligible).

Travel time: about 1 hour

Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus (July 13 – August 31)
Sawarajima Lodge Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
13:00	14:00

Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus (September 1 – end of season)
Sawarajima Lodge Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
10:30	11:30

Step 2. Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot → Shinjuku Station
From the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot, board the Mainichi Alpen-go “Hatanagi Dam ⇒ Shinjuku” service and ride to the terminus, Shinjuku Station. (Reservation required)
Reference: Operating period: selected days from July 14 – October 14, 2019
Fare: from ¥15,500
Travel time: about 6 – 7 hours

Mainichi Alpen-go
Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Dep.	Shinjuku Station Arr.
14:10	20:30 ~ 21:30

4. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shizuoka Station

The bus operated by Tokai Forest is a shuttle bus to each mountain hut, so a stay at a partner mountain hut is required (tent camping not eligible).

Travel time: about 1 hour

Sawarajima Lodge shuttle bus (July 13 – August 31)
Sawarajima Lodge Dep.	Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.
13:00	14:00
14:00	15:00

Step 2. Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot → Shizuoka Station

Southern Alps Climbing Line

From the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot, take the Shizutetsu Bus “Southern Alps Climbing Line” and get off at Shizuoka Station. (Reservation required)
Reference: Operating period: July 13 – August 25, 2019
Fare: ¥3,100
Travel time: about 3 hours 10 minutes

Southern Alps Climbing Line
Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot Arr.	Shizuoka Station Dep.
14:25	17:50

Southern Alps Access Pack

From the Hatanagi Summer Temporary Parking Lot, take the Chiyoda Taxi “Southern Alps Access Pack” and get off at Shizuoka Station. (Reservation required)
Reference: Scheduled operating days: July 13 – August 26, 2019
Fare: ¥4,800
Capacity: 8 persons per service (minimum 3 persons combined entry/descent)

The descent service includes a bathing stop en route.