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Mt. Hijiri

3,013m · Nagano

Timetable checked 2026/05/17
Mt. Hijiri3,013 mShizuoka
🚃 Reachable by public transport · consider an overnight · Advanced · for strong, experienced hikers
Access ease Moderate Direct hiking bus
Gateway station Takebashi Station  →  Trailhead Hijirizawa Trailhead
1 public-transport routes ・ Station→trailhead approx. 420 min
Advanced
Stamina7/10 (Official 6–10)
TechnicalC rocky sections / chains 〜 D Official
Trail time 16h 27mestimated
More figures and data sources
Distance 19.16 kmmeasuredTotal ascent ↑2,749 mmeasuredHighest point 3,012 m
📍 Distance, ascent and trail time are for the route shown on the map.
🌸 Best season: Jul, Sep bk
“bk” = data from books (being replaced with our own measurements). Distance, ascent and trail time are measured/estimated from the map route.
The operating schedule for the Mainichi Alpen-go and the shuttle bus varies by year. Check the latest dates and reservation procedures on the Maitabi official site.

Mt. Hijiri (聖岳) is a 3,013m peak on the border of Shizuoka and Nagano Prefectures in the southern part of the Southern Alps. It is selected as one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, the 100 Famous Mountains of Koshin, and the 100 Famous Mountains of Shinshu.

The most convenient approach to Mt. Hijiri is from the Hijirisawa Trailhead.
This is a remote mountain area deep in the southern Southern Alps, but during the season it can be reached using the Mainichi Alpen-go (overnight bus) and the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus.

The shuttle bus is operated by Tokushu Tokai Forest and is available to climbers staying (room only or higher) at the partner mountain huts. Tent-only campers cannot use it. Advance reservation is required.

*Timetable last checked: May 17, 2026

For access from Sawarajima or the Mt. Akaishi direction, see the Mt. Akaishi page.

Access status

ClosedMt. Hijiri west route (Bengashima / Iroudo)Bengashima – Nishizawado (about 2 km)

Binga-shima – Nishizawado (Seiko Mountain Hut – Katsurasawa Bridge, about 2km) : Closed to through-traffic since late December 2023 and still closed as of August 2026 . The original reason was a geological survey; it is now closed for disaster-recovery works "for the time being". You can still reach the Hikarigatake side via Shibasawa Gate and Iroudo. / Shibasawa Gate – Iorto : Vehicles have been prohibited since a city road slope collapsed in 2015; park at Shibasawa Gate and walk approximately 4 km. The eastern routes (Sawarajima / Hijirisawa Trailhead / Shizuoka side) remain available. 2026 Season Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus : Runs from July 11 – October 12, 2026. 7/11 – 9/23 is reservation-only (handled by Mainichi Kikaku Service); 9/24 – 10/9 accepts same-day boarding. Free for guests staying at partner mountain huts (Sawarajima Lodge / Hijiridaira-goya / Chausu-goya, etc.); tent campers cannot use it. Latest info: Tokushu Tokai Forest.

Based on the Iida City / Shinshu Tōyamagō of 8 July 2026; we checked the content ourselves on 2 August 2026. Source

Hiking Course Details — Mt. Hijiri

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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Hijiri

Mt. Hijiri — Reference Hiking Times

Standard pace; times rounded to 5 min
Segment Distance Ascent/Descent Out Back
Hijiri-zawa Trailhead → Goal 9.6 km +2312 m / −437 m 8:20 8:05
Round trip 9.0 km +1415 m / −1415 m 8:15

1. [Outbound] Shizuoka Station → Hijirisawa Trailhead

In 2026 there is no Mainichi Alpen-go running directly from Tokyo (Takebashi/Shinjuku) to Hatanagi (the Takebashi→Hatanagi service that ran until around 2019 is not sold in 2026). From Tokyo, travel to Shizuoka Station and use the Shizuoka departures in Step 1. For an overnight connection, the Shizutetsu Justline highway bus (Busta Shinjuku 22:55 → Shizuoka Station 2:22, as noted by Maitabi) connects to the 4:15/4:20 departures next morning.

Step 1. Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi summer parking (three options)

Bus Timetable: Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi / Numadaira (Mainichi Alpen-go from Shizuoka, reservation only)

2026 operating dates: 8/16–8/27, 9/11, 9/12, 9/18–9/21, 10/9, 10/10 (hikers only, reservation required)
Shizuoka Sta. South Exit dep. Hatanagi summer parking arr. Numadaira gate arr.
4:15 7:20 7:30

Fare: ¥14,500–16,500 (varies by date). Ride: about 3 hours. Booking: Maitabi (official)

Shared-taxi Timetable: Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi (Chiyoda Taxi South Alps hikers’ shuttle)

2026 operating dates: 7/18–8/31, 9/6, 9/13, 9/20–9/23, 9/27 (reservation only, 8 seats, minimum 4 passengers, book 7 business days ahead)
Shizuoka Sta. North Exit dep. Hatanagi summer parking arr.
4:20 7:20

Fare: ¥8,500 (one way, tax incl.). Booking: Chiyoda Taxi (official)

Bus Timetable: Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi (Shizutetsu Justline South Alps line)

2026 season: 7/16–8/16 daily (this season has ended; reservation only, until 19:00 the day before)
Shizuoka Sta. stop 8 dep. Shirakaba-sō arr. Hatanagi parking arr.
10:00 13:10 13:20

Fare: adult ¥5,000 (incl. luggage). Ride: about 3 h 20 min. Reference: Shizutetsu Bus 2026 notice

* The early buses (Alpen-go 4:15 / Chiyoda 4:20) arrive at Hatanagi at 7:20 and connect to the 7:30 Tokai Forest shuttle. The Shizutetsu bus (arr. 13:20) connects to the 15:00 shuttle.

Step 2. Hatanagi summer parking → Hijirisawa Trailhead (Tokai Forest shuttle, get off en route)

At the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot, transfer to the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle (Hatanagi → Sawarajima Lodge) and get off en route at the Hijirisawa Trailhead. The shuttle is only for guests staying at least one night at a Tokai Forest facility (Sawarajima Lodge, Senmai-goya, Akaishi-goya, Arakawa-goya, Hyakkenbora Yama-no-Ie and so on): it is free and is booked together with the lodging, so an itinerary that uses only Hijiridaira-goya or Chausu-goya (Ikawa Tourism Association) cannot board. Say at booking that you will get off at Hijirisawa. If you cannot board, it is about 4 hours on foot from Hatanagi to the Hijirisawa Trailhead along the forest road (private cars and taxis may not enter).

Tokai Forest shuttle: Hatanagi → Hijirisawa Trailhead (2026, 7/11–10/12, approximate)

Tokai Forest shuttle: Hatanagi → Hijirisawa Trailhead (2026, 7/11–10/12, approximate)
Hatanagi parking dep. Hijirisawa Trailhead arr. (approx.)
7:30 8:30
15:00 16:00

2. [Return] Hijirisawa Trailhead → Shizuoka Station

Step 1. Hijirisawa Trailhead → Hatanagi summer parking (Tokai Forest shuttle)

Tokai Forest shuttle: Hijirisawa Trailhead → Hatanagi (2026, approximate)

Tokai Forest shuttle: Hijirisawa Trailhead → Hatanagi (2026, approximate)
Hijirisawa Trailhead dep. (approx.) Hatanagi parking arr.
13:10 14:10

Hatanagi summer parking → Shinjuku Station: in 2026 there is no direct service from Hatanagi to Tokyo. Take a Shizuoka-bound service in Step 2 to Shizuoka Station, then Shinkansen or highway bus to Tokyo.

Step 2. Hatanagi summer parking → Shizuoka Station (three options)

Bus Timetable: Numadaira / Hatanagi → Shizuoka Station (Mainichi Alpen-go)

2026 operating dates: 8/16–8/30, 9/13, 9/14, 9/20–9/23, 10/11, 10/12 (hikers only, reservation required)
Numadaira gate dep. Hatanagi parking dep. Shirakaba-sō dep. Shizuoka Sta. arr.
14:50 15:00 15:05 18:00

Fare: ¥7,000–9,000

Shared-taxi Timetable: Hatanagi → Shizuoka Station (Chiyoda Taxi)

2026 operating dates: 7/18–8/31, 9/6, 9/13, 9/20–9/23, 9/27 (connects from the 6:10 shuttle from Sawarajima; reservation required)
Hatanagi parking dep. Shirakaba-sō dep. Shizuoka Sta. North Exit arr.
7:35 7:45 10:40

Fare: ¥8,500 (one way, tax incl.). Booking: Chiyoda Taxi (official)

Bus Timetable: Hatanagi → Shizuoka Station (Shizutetsu Justline South Alps line)

2026 season: 7/16–8/16 daily (this season has ended)
Hatanagi parking dep. Shirakaba-sō dep. Shizuoka Sta. arr.
14:30 14:40 17:50

Fare: adult ¥5,000 (incl. luggage). Ride: about 3 h 20 min. Reference: Shizutetsu Bus 2026 notice

Photo by T hino

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