Mt. Higashitensho

Mt. Higashitensho (Higashitenshodake, 2,814 m) rises on the border of Azumino and Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, on the Jonen Range of the Northern Alps. It stands between Mt. Otensho (2,922 m) and Mt. Yokotoshi / Mt. Jonen, on the “Omote-Ginza” traverse route that runs from Mt. Tsubakuro toward Mt. Yari and Mt. Jonen, and is one of Japan’s 100 Highest Mountains (Hyakukōzan).
It is a gentle, gravelly peak cloaked in creeping pine on the ridge, with a wide panorama of Mt. Yari, the Hotaka peaks, Mt. Otensho and Mt. Jonen, out to the Tateyama and Ushiro-Tateyama ranges. It is not a peak you climb on its own: most hikers reach it from Jonen-noukoshi (Jonen-goya hut) over Mt. Yokotoshi, or while traversing the Omote-Ginza. By public transport, you travel from Hotaka Station to the Ichinosawa trailhead (taxi) or to Nakabusa Onsen (bus), then climb to the ridge.

The shortest approach is from the Ichinosawa trailhead (about 1,320 m): stay one night at Jonen-goya at Jonen-noukoshi (2,450 m), then cross Mt. Yokotoshi to Mt. Higashitensho the next day (Ichinosawa to Jonen-noukoshi about 4 hours 20 min; Jonen-noukoshi to Mt. Higashitensho about 2 hours). From the Tsubakuro side it is a long 2–3 night traverse along the Omote-Ginza: Nakabusa Onsen → Enzanso → Daitenso, then south from Daitenso.
You reach the trailheads by taxi to Ichinosawa (designated companies only, reservation required) or by the scheduled bus to Nakabusa Onsen, both from Hotaka Station. The ridge huts are Jonen-goya, Daitenso, Daitenjo Hut and Enzanso. The best season is early July to early October, once the snow has melted; outside this window there is snow and ice, and the ridge is exposed to strong wind and sudden weather changes. Always check the latest trail, snow and hut conditions in advance.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

See also the neighbouring Mt. Jonen and the Omote-Ginza-linked Mt. Otensho pages.

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Hotaka Station → Ichinosawa trailhead (taxi, via Jonen-noukoshi)
2. [Outbound] Hotaka Station → Nakabusa Onsen (Tsubakuro side, via Omote-Ginza)
3. [Outbound] Takebashi Station → Nakabusa Onsen (overnight bus)
4. [Return] Nakabusa Onsen / Ichinosawa → Hotaka Station

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1. [Outbound] Hotaka Station → Ichinosawa trailhead (taxi, via Jonen-noukoshi)

From the taxi stand at Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line, take Nan-an Taxi, Azumi Kanko Taxi or Azumino Daiichi Kotsu to the Ichinosawa trailhead (about 45 min, about ¥7,500–9,000; roughly ¥2,000 per person shared by four). The Ichinosawa forest road is under recovery work (late March to end of October 2026); only designated taxis can reach the collapsed section, and it is about a 1.5 km walk from there to the trailhead. Always reserve ahead and check the latest status. From the Ichinosawa trailhead it is about 4 hours 20 min to Jonen-noukoshi (Jonen-goya), and about 2 hours more over Mt. Yokotoshi to Mt. Higashitensho.

Taxi companies: Nan-an Taxi 0263-72-2855 / Azumi Kanko Taxi 0263-82-3113 / Azumino Daiichi Kotsu 0263-88-2032. Reach Hotaka Station from your own starting point on the Oito Line (the nearest hub is Hotaka Station).

Reference: Jonen-goya official trail information

2. [Outbound] Hotaka Station → Nakabusa Onsen (Tsubakuro side, via Omote-Ginza)

From Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line, take the Nan-an Taxi “Nakabusa Onsen scheduled bus” to its terminus, Nakabusa Onsen (the Tsubakuro trailhead). From here you traverse the Omote-Ginza via Gassen-one ridge → Enzanso → Daitenso, then head south from Daitenso to Mt. Higashitensho (Nakabusa to Enzanso about 5 hours, Enzanso to Daitenso about 4 hours, Daitenso to Mt. Higashitensho about 1 hour).
Ride time: 55 min. Fare: ¥1,500. Operating period: scheduled days, typically late April to early November.

Each operating day is classed as A, B or C, with a different number of runs. An A-day has six runs including an early 5:15; a B-day has five (no 5:15); a C-day has no morning runs, so the first bus is 11:10 (three runs). On the busiest days an extra 4:30 run is added to the A schedule. Always check which class the day is on the Nan-an Taxi operating calendar.

Hotaka Station → Nakabusa Onsen, A-day (red = extra run, only on calendar-marked days)

Dep. Hotaka Station	Arr. Nakabusa Onsen
4:30	5:25
5:15	6:10
6:40	7:35
8:25	9:20
11:10	12:05
12:55	13:50
14:50	15:45

Hotaka Station → Nakabusa Onsen, B-day (no early 5:15 run)

Dep. Hotaka Station	Arr. Nakabusa Onsen
6:40	7:35
8:25	9:20
11:10	12:05
12:55	13:50
14:50	15:45

Hotaka Station → Nakabusa Onsen, C-day (no morning runs; first bus 11:10)

Dep. Hotaka Station	Arr. Nakabusa Onsen
11:10	12:05
12:55	13:50
14:50	15:45

Reference: Nan-an Taxi Nakabusa Onsen scheduled bus (operating calendar)

3. [Outbound] Takebashi Station → Nakabusa Onsen (overnight bus)

Take the Mainichi Alpen-go “Tsubakuro / Jonen / Cho” bus from Takebashi Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line) and get off at the Tsubakuro trailhead, Nakabusa Onsen (reservation only). Ride time: about 6–7 hours (overnight). Fare: ¥8,800–13,800 (varies by season and seat, reservation required).

Mainichi Alpen-go (outbound, overnight)

Dep. Takebashi Station	Arr. Nakabusa Onsen (Tsubakuro trailhead)
23:00	around 5:30–6:00 (next day)

Details: Mainichi Alpen-go climbing bus — Tsubakuro / Jonen / Cho

4. [Return] Nakabusa Onsen / Ichinosawa → Hotaka Station

If you descend to Nakabusa Onsen, take the Nan-an Taxi “Hotaka Station scheduled bus” back to Hotaka Station (55 min, ¥1,500). The number of return runs also differs by operating class; on a C-day the two morning runs (9:00 and 10:45) do not operate, leaving three. The descent from Daitenso to Nakabusa Onsen takes about 5–6 hours, so allow plenty of time for your return bus.

Nakabusa Onsen → Hotaka Station, A / B-day

Dep. Nakabusa Onsen	Arr. Hotaka Station
9:00	9:55
10:45	11:40
12:35	13:30
14:15	15:10
16:15	17:10

Nakabusa Onsen → Hotaka Station, C-day (no morning runs)

Dep. Nakabusa Onsen	Arr. Hotaka Station
12:35	13:30
14:15	15:10
16:15	17:10

If you descend to Ichinosawa, call a taxi where there is mobile signal near the trail consultation office at the trailhead, or have one waiting by prior reservation, and ride to Hotaka Station (about 45 min, about ¥7,500–9,500). During the recovery work you must walk about 1.5 km to the collapsed section. A good post-hike hot spring is Shakunage-no-yu (¥650).
To return to Takebashi/Shinjuku by overnight bus (Mainichi Alpen-go), use the Nakabusa Onsen departure (reservation only; confirm on the official site).

Reference: Nan-an Taxi Nakabusa Onsen scheduled bus

Climbing routes and safety notes

Route 1 (via Ichinosawa and Jonen-noukoshi / 1 night or more): Ichinosawa trailhead (about 1,320 m) → Munatsuki-hatcho → Jonen-noukoshi / Jonen-goya (2,450 m, about 4 hours 20 min, overnight) → Mt. Yokotoshi (2,767 m) → Mt. Higashitensho (about 2 hours from Jonen-noukoshi). Many hikers also add Mt. Jonen around the Higashitensho round trip. This is the practical shortest way to stand on Mt. Higashitensho.

Route 2 (Nakabusa and the Omote-Ginza traverse / 2–3 nights): Nakabusa Onsen (Tsubakuro trailhead, about 1,450 m) → Gassen-one ridge → Enzanso (about 5 hours, overnight) → Odori-no-kashira → Kiridoshi-iwa → Daitenso (about 4 hours, overnight) → Mt. Higashitensho (about 1 hour from Daitenso). A long ridge walk above the tree line with sweeping views of Mt. Yari and the Hotaka peaks.

Summit and views: The summit of Mt. Higashitensho is a gentle, gravelly, creeping-pine ridge with a wide panorama of Mt. Yari, the Hotaka peaks, Mt. Otensho, Mt. Jonen and Mt. Yokotoshi, out to the Tateyama and Ushiro-Tateyama ranges.

Hazards: The Jonen-noukoshi–Yokotoshi–Higashitensho ridge is mostly easy walking, but on the Omote-Ginza side “Kiridoshi-iwa” before Daitenso is a rocky spot with chains and an iron ladder. The ridge is above the tree line, so in rain, strong wind or fog the risk of falls and losing the way rises; do not push on, and be ready to wait it out at a hut.

Mountain huts (all require reservation):
• Jonen-goya (Jonen-noukoshi, 2,450 m): capacity about 200, typically late April to early November, tel. 090-1430-3328, tent sites available.
• Daitenso (just below Mt. Otensho): in 2026, June 13 – November 3; Enzanso group, reservation tel. 0263-83-5810.
• Enzanso (just below Mt. Tsubakuro): reservation tel. 0263-32-1535.
• Daitenjo Hut (Yarigatake Sanso group): a base on the Omote-Ginza / Kisaku-shindo side.

Water, season and equipment: There is almost no water on the ridge; buy drinking water at the huts (the Ichinosawa route has the Munatsuki-hatcho spring). The best season is early July to early October; outside it, snow and ice make the route unsuitable for general hikers. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS, and ample water and food.

In an emergency: Call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue). Azumino Police Station 0263-72-3000 / Azumino City Crisis Management 0263-71-2080.

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