Mt. Cho

Nagano

Fitness 4 · ModerateTimetable checked 2026/05/11

Fitness4/10

Walking8:27

Ascent1,414m

Mt. Cho

100 Highest Mountains 100 Mountains of Shinshu

🚃 Reachable by public transport · consider an overnight · Intermediate · for reasonably fit hikers

Intermediate

Stamina4/10

TechnicalB some steep climbs Official

Trail time 8h 27mestimatedDistance 11.56 kmmeasuredTotal ascent ↑1,414 mmeasuredHighest point 2,672 m

📍 Distance, ascent and trail time are for the route shown on the map. (of 2 routes; others differ in difficulty)

Access ease Easy First bus reaches trailhead by 5:40, No transfers, Direct hiking bus, Seasonal access

Gateway station JR Hotaka Station, Sawayaka Shinshu-go, Shin-Shimashima Station → Trailhead Mitsumata Daiichi Parking Lot, Kamikochi Bus Terminal

2 public-transport routes

🔍 Find similar mountains →

“bk” = data from books (being replaced with our own measurements). Distance, ascent and trail time are measured/estimated from the map route.

Mt. Cho (蝶ヶ岳) is a 2,677m peak located in the southeastern part of the Northern Alps. Extending south from the main ridge of the Jonen Range, the views of the Yari-Hotaka Range from the summit are renowned.
The representative approaches are two: “climb the Nagakabe Ridge from Kamikochi (Tokusawa),” and “climb from Mt. Mitsumata Trailhead in Azumino City via Mameuchi-daira.”
Regarding Mt. Mitsumata, the closest trailhead — until now no bus ran and a taxi was required — but from 2025 a demonstration bus (reservation required) bound for the Mt. Mitsumata Trailhead operates mainly on weekends. For 2026 season operating information, please check the Azumino City official site.

*Timetable last checked: May 11, 2026
Latest topics
– Kamikochi ~ Shin-Shimashima route buses are all reservation-based (2025.4.17 ~ 11.15). Times of main services listed below.
– The Mitsumata Line (Hotaka Station ⇔ Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking) operates in demonstration on 2025/7/19 ~ 10/13 on Sat/Sun/holidays and other specific days (reservation required, cash only).
– Kamikochi is closed to private cars year-round. Bus or taxi use is required.

How to access the trailheads

[Outbound] JR Hotaka Station → Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking
[Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi Bus Terminal
[Outbound] Sawayaka Shinshu-go
[Return] Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking → JR Hotaka Station (demonstration operation, reservation required)
[Return] Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Shin-Shimashima Station
[Outbound] Sawayaka Shinshu-go

Hiking Course Details — Mt. Cho

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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Cho

Mt. Cho — Reference Hiking Times

Standard pace; times rounded to 5 min
Segment	Distance	Ascent/Descent	Out	Back
Mitsumata Daiichi Parking Lot → Mitsumata Mountain Guidance Center	0.8 km	+77 m / −0 m	0:20	0:15
Mitsumata Mountain Guidance Center → Chōgatake Hütte	4.9 km	+1312 m / −11 m	3:55	3:50
Chōgatake Hütte → Mount Chō	0.1 km	+14 m / −0 m	0:05	0:05
Round trip	11.6 km	+1413 m / −1413 m	8:55

📥 Download GPX (reference route)

1. [Outbound] JR Hotaka Station → Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking

From 2025, a demonstration bus from within Azumino City to Mt. Mitsumata Trailhead (1st Parking) operates mainly on Sat/Sun/holidays (reservation required, cash only).
Operating period: In 2025 actual, July 19 ~ October 13 on Sat/Sun/holidays and other specific days (please check Azumino City announcement for 2026)
Fare: one-way adult ¥2,000
Travel time: about 40 minutes
Reservation / Details: Azumino City: Operating a route bus (Mitsumata Line) bound for the Mt. Mitsumata Trailhead

Bus Timetable (uphill) toward Hotaka → Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking

JR Hotaka Station Dep.	Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking Arr.
5:00	5:40
6:50	7:30
9:00	9:30

2. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Use the Alpico Kotsu “Matsumoto / Shin-Shimashima ⇔ Kamikochi” route bus. From Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima Station, the Alpico Railway Kamikochi Line is convenient (about 30 minutes / one-way ¥710).

Operating period: April 17 ~ November 15, 2026 (daily operation)
Travel time: about 65 minutes
One-way fare: Shin-Shimashima → Kamikochi ¥2,850 (adult, revised 2026/4/17)

Bus TimetableShin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi

Shin-Shimashima Station	Kamikochi Bus Terminal
6:00	7:05
7:10	8:15
8:00	9:05
8:40	9:45
9:30	10:35
10:05	11:10
10:50	11:55
11:30	12:35
12:10	13:15
12:50	13:55
13:30	14:35
14:10	15:15
14:50	15:55
15:30	16:35

Reference:

3. [Outbound] Sawayaka Shinshu-go

Direct buses from major cities to Kamikochi. All are reservation-based, and operating days follow the calendar.

Fare (adult one-way): Shinjuku area from ¥8,000 / Osaka / Kyoto area from ¥10,000 / Nagano from ¥4,400
Travel time: Shinjuku area about 5 hours / Osaka / Kyoto area about 7–8 hours (overnight) / Nagano about 2 hours 40 minutes

Bus Timetable Shinjuku → Kamikochi (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)

Operating period: 2026 services from Kanto undecided (2025 actual: July 11 ~ November 14)

Operating period: Shinjuku → Kamikochi Bus Terminal
* 2026 operating information undecided (as of 2026-05-11). Please check the latest on official. The following is 2025 actual.

Shinjuku → Kamikochi (representative services)
Busta Shinjuku	Kamikochi Bus Terminal
7:15 (day, 3-abreast)	12:02
22:25 (overnight, 3 / 4-abreast)	5:20

Reference: Route details / July–November 2025 operating guide PDF

Bus Timetable Shibuya ⇔ Kamikochi (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)

Operating period: Shibuya departures July 11 ~ October 26, 2025
* 2026 operating information undecided (as of 2026-05-11). The following is 2025 actual.

Shibuya → Kamikochi (representative services)
Shibuya Mark City	Kamikochi Bus Terminal
22:00 (overnight, 4-abreast)	5:20

Reference: Route details / 2026 operating guide PDF / Tokyu Bus guide

Bus Timetable Osaka / Kyoto ⇔ Kamikochi (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)

Operating period: Osaka / Kyoto departures April 17 ~ November 14, 2026 (daily)

Osaka / Kyoto → Kamikochi (representative services)
Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai)	Shin-Osaka	Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit	Kamikochi Bus Terminal
21:30	21:39	22:50	5:20

Reference: 2025 Osaka / Kyoto ~ Kamikochi timetable / operating guide PDF

4. [Return] Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking → JR Hotaka Station (demonstration operation, reservation required)

Bus Timetable (downhill)Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking → JR Hotaka Station

Mt. Mitsumata 1st Parking Dep.	JR Hotaka Station Arr.
10:00	10:40
13:30	14:10
15:30	16:10

5. [Return] Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Shin-Shimashima Station

From Kamikochi Bus Terminal, board the Alpico Kotsu “Matsumoto ~ Shin-Shimashima ~ Kamikochi line” bus and get off at Shin-Shimashima Station.

Operating period: April 17 ~ November 15, 2026 (daily operation)
Travel time: about 65 minutes
One-way fare: Kamikochi → Shin-Shimashima ¥2,850 (adult, revised 2026/4/17)

Bus TimetableKamikochi Bus Terminal → Shin-Shimashima Station

Kamikochi Bus Terminal	Shin-Shimashima Station
7:50	8:55
9:30	10:35
10:40	11:45
11:25	12:30
12:05	13:10
12:40	13:45
13:20	14:25
14:05	15:10
14:40	15:45
15:15	16:20
16:00	17:05
16:40	17:45
17:15	18:20
17:55	19:00

Reference: Alpico Kotsu Route Bus Matsumoto / Shin-Shimashima ⇔ Kamikochi (official), Timetable PDF

6. [Return] Sawayaka Shinshu-go

Use the Alpico Kotsu Sawayaka Shinshu-go from Kamikochi Bus Terminal to each area. (Reservation required)

Bus TimetableSawayaka Shinshu-go Bus Timetable

Kamikochi → Shinjuku
Kamikochi Bus Terminal	Busta Shinjuku
14:30 (3-abreast)	19:17
15:50 (3-abreast)	20:37
16:50 (4-abreast)	21:37

Kamikochi → Shibuya
Kamikochi Bus Terminal	Shibuya Mark City
16:20	─

Kamikochi → Osaka / Kyoto
Kamikochi Bus Terminal	Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit	Shin-Osaka	Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai)
16:10	21:31	22:05	22:15

Reference: Shinjuku line | Shibuya line | Osaka / Kyoto line PDF

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