Mt. Azumayasan (Nagano)

Mt. Azumaya (四阿山, Azumayasan, 2,354 m) is a stratovolcano straddling Ueda and Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture and Tsumagoi in Gunma Prefecture, and one of Fukada Kyūya’s 100 Famous Mountains of Japan. It is the highest peak of the Shiga Highlands, and its name comes from a profile said to resemble the roof of an *azumaya* (a four-post arbour); on the Gunma side it is also called Mt. Agatsuma. A loop from Sugadaira Bokujō (Sugadaira Ranch) linking it with neighbouring Mt. Neko — a famous flower mountain — is popular, offering a panoramic ridge walk with views of the Northern Alps and Mt. Asama.
The nearest station is Ueda Station; take the Ueda Bus Sugadaira Line to Sugadaira-kōgen Davos, from where the Sugadaira Ranch trailhead is about a 30–40 minute walk.

Mt. Azumaya is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, the 100 Famous Mountains of Shinshū and the 100 Famous Mountains of Gunma. By public transport, take the Ueda Bus Sugadaira Line from Ueda Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Sugadaira-kōgen Davos, then walk to the Sugadaira Ranch trailhead. By car, take the Jōshin-etsu Expressway to the Ueda-Sugadaira IC and National Route 144 to Sugadaira Ranch. The ranch is the trailhead and charges a 300-yen entry-cooperation fee per person.

*Timetable last checked: September 7, 2026

1. [Outbound] Ueda Station → Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → Sugadaira Ranch trailhead
2. [Hike] Sugadaira Ranch → Mt. Neko & Mt. Azumaya loop
3. [Return] Descent → Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → Ueda Station
4. Recommended plans & area info

1. [Outbound] Ueda Station → Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → Sugadaira Ranch trailhead

Ueda Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen and Shinano Railway) is the starting point. From the station, take the Ueda Bus Sugadaira Line to the Sugadaira-kōgen Davos bus stop, about 1 hour (adult fare 1,600 yen). From the bus stop, climb the paved road to the Sugadaira Ranch trailhead, about a 30–40 minute walk. Take an early-morning bus and you can complete the Mt. Neko–Mt. Azumaya loop as a day hike.

Reference: NAVITIME — Ueda Station → Sugadaira-kōgen Davos (Sugadaira Line)

2. [Hike] Sugadaira Ranch → Mt. Neko & Mt. Azumaya loop

From the Sugadaira Ranch trailhead, first climb the flower mountain Mt. Neko (2,207 m). The gentle grassland path is easy even for beginners, with beautiful birch woods and alpine flowers. Descend from Mt. Neko to the Ōsukima saddle, then climb back up to Mt. Azumaya, whose summit commands sweeping views of the Northern Alps, Mt. Asama and Kusatsu-Shirane. The descent follows the Naka-Azumaya and Ko-Azumaya ridge back to Sugadaira Ranch: the loop is about 10.1 km, with around 950 m of cumulative ascent and a standard time of about 6 hours 25 minutes. It is well signposted and suited to beginner-to-intermediate hikers.

Reference: Yamakei Online — Mt. Neko / Mt. Azumaya loop from Sugadaira Ranch

3. [Return] Descent → Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → Ueda Station

After descending to Sugadaira Ranch, walk the paved road back to the Sugadaira-kōgen Davos bus stop and take the Ueda Bus Sugadaira Line back to Ueda Station (about 65 minutes). The bus runs on different seasonal schedules with limited services, so check the times in advance to match your descent. Around Ueda Station there are day-trip hot springs and Shinshū soba restaurants to enjoy afterwards.

Reference: NAVITIME — Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → Ueda Station (Sugadaira Line)

4. Recommended plans & area info

Public-transport plan: Ueda Station → early Sugadaira Line bus to Sugadaira-kōgen Davos → walk to Sugadaira Ranch → Mt. Neko–Mt. Azumaya loop → Sugadaira Ranch → afternoon bus to Ueda Station (about 6–7 hours of walking).
Car plan: a loop from the Sugadaira Ranch car park (300-yen cooperation fee), about 10.1 km and around 6 hours. Other options include the Torii Pass route on the Gunma side and the route from Palcall Tsumagoi Ski Resort, which has a gondola.

Featured image: Ski Mania / Public domain