Mt. Karamatsu

Mt. Karamatsu (唐松岳) is a 2,696m famous peak in the Ushiro-Tateyama Range of the Northern Alps. Popular for the superb ridge scenery viewing the Hakuba Three Mountains and the Kaerazu-no-Ken, and for its relatively walkable route for the elevation. Using the Happo Alpenline (gondola + chairlift), you can climb to Happo-ike Sanso at about 1,830m elevation in one stretch, and enjoy the classic course of Happo-ike → Maruyama Cairn → Karamatsudake Chojo Sanso → Mt. Karamatsu.

How to take the shortest route to Mt. Karamatsu

Step 1. Reach Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal by various means of transport
Step 2. From the terminal, approach Happo-ike Sanso via the Happo Alpenline (Gondola “Adam” → Alpen & Grat quads)

Happo Alpenline (gondola & chairlift)
・Operation: in 2026 scheduled from early June – early November (see the official site for details)
・Fares (Alpenline through ticket): round trip adult ¥3,400 / child ¥2,200, one way adult ¥2,000 / child ¥1,200
・Round-trip tickets are valid for 3 days from the date of issue. For details and operating calendar, see the official site.
※ Details: Happo Alpenline

*Timetable last checked: May 16, 2026

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Hakuba Station → Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal
2. [Outbound] Nagano Station → Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal
3. [Outbound] Shinjuku Station → Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (highway bus)
4. [Outbound] Osaka / Kyoto → Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (highway bus)
5. [Return] Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal → Hakuba Station
6. [Return] Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal → Nagano Station
7. [Return] Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal → Shinjuku Station (highway bus)
8. [Return] Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal → Kyoto / Osaka

1. [Outbound] Hakuba Station → Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal

From JR Hakuba Station, take the Alpico Kotsu Happo Line / Tsugaike Line local bus and get off at Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal.
Fare: ¥200
Travel time: about 5 minutes
Operating period: April 1 – November 30, 2026
*From Hakuba Station to the bus terminal is 1.9 km, also about a 20-minute walk.

Bus TimetableHakuba Station → Happo Bus Terminal

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Happo / Tsugaike Line (Official PDF)]

2. [Outbound] Nagano Station → Happo Bus Terminal

From the bus stop at JR Nagano Station East Exit, take the Alpico Kotsu Limited Express Bus “Nagano-Hakuba Line” and get off at Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal.
Travel time: about 1 hour 15 minutes Fare: ¥2,600
Operating period: April 1 – November 30, 2026

Bus TimetableNagano Station → Happo Bus Terminal Bus Timetable

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Nagano-Hakuba Line (Official PDF)]

3. [Outbound] Shinjuku Station → Happo Bus Terminal (highway bus)

From Busta Shinjuku, take the Alpico Kotsu / Keio Bus Highway Bus “Shinjuku-Hakuba Line” and get off at Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal.
Travel time: about 5 hours Fare: ¥5,800–7,000 (varies by day of week / season)
Operating period: April 1 – December 4, 2026
Seat search / reservation: Highway Bus dotcom Shinjuku-Hakuba Line

Bus TimetableShinjuku Station (Busta Shinjuku) → Happo Bus Terminal Bus Timetable

Details:

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu]

4. [Outbound] Osaka / Kyoto → Happo Bus Terminal (highway bus)

For 2026 operating information, see the official site.

Reference: [Sawayaka Shinshu-go Osaka / Kyoto – Ogizawa / Hakuba]

5. [Return] Happo Bus Terminal → Hakuba Station

From Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, take the Alpico Kotsu Happo Line / Tsugaike Line local bus and get off at Hakuba Station.
Fare: ¥200
Travel time: about 5 minutes
Operating period: April 1 – November 30, 2026
*From the bus terminal to Hakuba Station is 1.9 km, also about a 20-minute walk.

Bus TimetableHappo Bus Terminal → Hakuba Station Bus Timetable

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu]

6. [Return] Happo Bus Terminal → Nagano Station

From Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, take the Alpico Kotsu Limited Express Bus “Nagano-Hakuba Line” and get off at Nagano Station East Exit.
Travel time: about 1 hour 15 minutes Fare: ¥2,600
Operating period: April 1 – November 30, 2026

Bus TimetableHappo Bus Terminal → Nagano Bus Timetable

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu official]

7. [Return] Happo Bus Terminal → Shinjuku Station (highway bus)

From Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, take the Alpico Kotsu / Keio Bus Highway Bus “Shinjuku-Hakuba Line” and get off at the terminus, Busta Shinjuku.
Travel time: about 5 hours Fare: ¥5,800–7,000 (varies by day of week / season)
Seat search / reservation: Highway Bus dotcom Shinjuku-Hakuba Line

Bus TimetableHappo Bus Terminal → Shinjuku Station Bus Timetable

Details:

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu]

8. [Return] Happo Bus Terminal → Kyoto / Osaka

From Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal, take the Sawayaka Shinshu-go Osaka / Kyoto – Ogizawa / Hakuba.

For 2026 operating information, see the official site.

Reference: [Sawayaka Shinshu-go Osaka / Kyoto – Ogizawa / Hakuba]

Photo by tsuda