Mt. Eboshidake

Mt. Eboshi (烏帽子岳, 2,628 m), on the border of Omachi in Nagano and Toyama City in Toyama, is one of the 200 Famous Japanese Mountains.
A sharp rocky peak standing at the start of the “Ura-Ginza” traverse in the Northern Alps, its appeal is the pointed, eboshi-hat summit and the cluster of tarns such as Eboshi-ike and Shijuhachi-ike scattered along the ridge. From the Takase Dam trailhead you climb the Bunatate Ridge, one of the three great steep climbs of the Northern Alps, and the classic plan is an advanced route staying one night at Eboshi Hut and going up to the summit and back.
For public transport to the trailhead, you combine the Ura-Ginza climbing bus from JR Shinano-Omachi Station to Nanakura and a special taxi from Nanakura to Takase Dam.

The trailhead is Takase Dam (about 1,270 m); the foot of the Bunatate Ridge is about 30 minutes’ walk away. The standard route is Takase Dam → Bunatate Ridge → Eboshi Hut (overnight) → Mt. Eboshi, out and back, with a total ascent time of about 5–6 hours. It is an advanced route with about 1,250 m of steep climbing at an average 23° grade that cannot be done as a day trip. The Bunatate Ridge has numbered markers about every 100 m, from “No. 12” at the trailhead to “No. 0” at Eboshi Hut.
On the ridge, Eboshi Hut is reservation-only and serves as a base for lodging, camping and emergencies. The best season is mid-July to the end of September, while the hut is open; on the ridge above the tree line, beware of strong wind, sudden weather changes and the rocky section from Mae-Eboshi to the summit. Always check the latest trail and hut-operation conditions in advance.

*Last checked: June 6, 2026

1. [Round trip] Shinano-Omachi Station → Nanakura → Takase Dam (trailhead)

The base is Shinano-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line. To Takase Dam you combine a summer-season climbing bus and a special taxi.

① Shinano-Omachi Station → Nanakura (Ura-Ginza climbing bus)
Take the “Ura-Ginza climbing bus” run by Omachi City and get off at Nanakura. Via Omachi Onsen-kyo and Kuzu Onsen it takes about 45 minutes, and the fare is ¥1,500 one way for adults (no reservation). It runs on designated days from 17 July to 25 October 2026, four round trips a day (with an early-morning service timed for the climb). Always check the operating days and times on the official calendar. Outside the bus period, take a taxi from Shinano-Omachi Station to Nanakura.

② Nanakura → Takase Dam (special taxi)
The road from Nanakura to Takase Dam is a power-station service road closed to general cars, so you use a special taxi (about ¥2,700 per regular car, about 15 minutes) or walk about 1 hour 30 minutes. In the peak season (July–August) it runs from 5 a.m. Mobile reception is poor around Takase Dam, so it is safer to book the return taxi in advance.
― Alpico Taxi, Omachi office 0261-23-2323
― Alps Daiichi Kotsu 0261-22-2121

Inquiries: For the latest bus and trail information, check with the Omachi City Tourism Association (0261-22-0190).

Bus Timetable Shinano-Ōmachi Station → Nanakura trailhead (Ura-Ginza Mountain Bus)

Bus Timetable Nanakura trailhead → Shinano-Ōmachi Station (Ura-Ginza Mountain Bus)

Source: [Ura-Ginza climbing bus (Omachi City)] / [Eboshi Hut access]

2. [Outbound] Takebashi / Shinjuku → Nanakura Dam (Mainichi Alpen-gō overnight bus)

From Tokyo, Maitabi’s overnight hikers’ bus “Mainichi Alpen-gō” (reservation only) arrives at Nanakura Dam (Nanakura-sansō) early in the morning. In 2026 it runs on selected days from July to mid-October: Takebashi 22:30 / Shinjuku West Exit 23:00 → Nanakura Dam about 3:40. Alighting at Nanakura costs ¥1,000 more than the base fare, i.e. ¥9,300–15,300 one way depending on the date. After arrival, take a licensed taxi (from 5:00; 5:30 in September) to Takase Dam, or walk about 1 h 30 min.

Night Bus Takebashi / Shinjuku → Nanakura Dam (Mainichi Alpen-gō)

Reference: [Maitabi – Mainichi Alpen-gō Hakuba / Nanakura / Ōgizawa (outbound)]

3. [Return] Ōmachi Onsenkyō → Shinjuku (Mainichi Alpen-gō)

To return to Tokyo, take the 4th Ura-Ginza Mountain Bus (Nanakura 15:05) to Ōmachi Onsenkyō (arr. 15:28) and change to the Mainichi Alpen-gō return bus leaving Ōmachi Onsenkyō (in front of Yakushi-no-yu) at 16:40, arriving at Shinjuku West Exit around 20:30 (no return bus boards directly at Nanakura). ¥6,500 one way, reservation only.

Night Bus Ōmachi Onsenkyō → Shinjuku West Exit (Mainichi Alpen-gō)

Reference: [Maitabi – Mainichi Alpen-gō Hakuba / Ōgizawa / Nanakura (return)]

Route and safety notes

Route: Takase Dam → Fudo-sawa → Bunatate Ridge → Eboshi Hut → Mae-Eboshi → Mt. Eboshi (2,628 m). The total ascent time is about 5–6 hours, an advanced route with one night at Eboshi Hut. From the hut to the summit takes about 30 minutes, with a rocky climb just below the top.

Steep climb and rocks: The Bunatate Ridge is one of the three great steep climbs of the Northern Alps, a continuous 1,250 m ascent. The summit area from Mae-Eboshi to Mt. Eboshi is a rocky peak with chains, so beware of a fall in rain or strong wind.

Water, hut and season: There is no water source on the ridge, so buy drinking water at Eboshi Hut. The best season is mid-July to the end of September, while the hut is open; outside it, snow and ice make it unsuitable for general hiking. Eboshi Hut is reservation-only, so book in advance.

Gear and emergencies: Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS, and ample water and food. In an accident or emergency, call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
・Omachi Police Station 0261-22-0110

Photo by Koda6029 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0