Mt. Kisokoma-ga-take

Mt. Kisokoma-ga-take (木曽駒ヶ岳) is a 2,956m peak rising in Nagano Prefecture — the highest peak of the Central Alps.
The Senjojiki Cirque at about 2,650m is accessed directly via the Komagatake Ropeway; a treasure trove of alpine plants, it offers climbing and sightseeing through all four seasons. One of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.
From Komagane Station on the JR Iida Line, take a local bus to Suganodai Bus Center, then a bus from there to Shirabidaira Station.

This page summarizes how to reach the Shirabidaira Station ropeway base by train + local bus (Ina Bus / Komagatake Ropeway Line) along with the latest bus times.
※ The Suganodai – Shirabidaira section is closed to private vehicles, so use the local bus from Suganodai Bus Center. The parking lot is ¥800 per day for ordinary cars.

Crowding caution: During the high season (Sat/Sun/holidays of summer holidays and autumn-foliage period), both the bus and ropeway are very crowded. Plans with ample time margin are recommended. The ropeway basically does not require reservation (first-come, first-served).

*Timetable last checked: August 8, 2026

1. [Outbound] Komagane Station → Shirabidaira Station

From the bus stop in front of JR Iida Line Komagane Station, take the Ina Bus Komagatake Ropeway Line and get off at Shirabidaira Station.
Fare (Komagane Station ⇄ Shirabidaira): one way ¥1,050 / round trip ¥2,100 (adult) | duration: about 45 minutes.
※ Boarding from Suganodai Bus Center is one way ¥830 / round trip ¥1,660.

Operating schedule (2026 season):
Summer schedule (4/10–6/14 and 6/20–11/30) … every 30 minutes.
Winter schedule (4/1–4/6, 12/7–1/26 and 2/5–3/31) … hourly (departures from Komagane Station 8:00–15:00).
※ During ropeway maintenance closures (4/7–4/9, 6/15–6/19, 12/1–12/6 and 1/27–2/4) buses turn back at Komagane-bashi and do not reach Shirabidaira.
※ Services marked ※1–※3 run on limited days — see the notes below the table.

Bus TimetableKomagane Station → Shirabidaira Station Bus Timetable

※1 departures (5:00, 5:30) = run only on weekends/holidays 7/18–8/16, on 8/10–8/14, on 9/19–9/22 and on weekends/holidays 9/26–10/12.
※2 departures (6:00, 6:30) = run on 7/11 and 7/12, daily 7/17–8/21, on weekends 8/22–9/13, and daily 9/14–10/18.
※3 departures (7:00, 7:30, 15:30, 16:00) = suspended 11/9–11/30 (run daily the rest of the period).

Reference: Central Alps Komagatake Ropeway (fares & timetable) /
Central Alps Komagatake Ropeway timetable page (2026 PDF)

2. [Return] Shirabidaira Station → Komagane Station

From the Shirabidaira Station bus stop, take the Komagatake Ropeway Line to Komagane Station.
Fare (Shirabidaira ⇄ Komagane Station): one way ¥1,050 / round trip ¥2,100 (adult) | duration: about 46 – 48 minutes.

Operating schedule: every 30 minutes on the summer schedule; hourly on the winter schedule (departures from Shirabidaira 9:10–16:10). Services marked ※1–※3 run on limited days — see the notes below the table.

Bus TimetableShirabidaira Station → Komagane Station Bus Timetable

※1 departures (6:20, 6:50) = run only on weekends/holidays 7/18–8/16, on 8/10–8/14, on 9/19–9/22 and on weekends/holidays 9/26–10/12.
※2 departures (7:20, 7:50) = run on 7/11 and 7/12, daily 7/17–8/21, on weekends 8/22–9/13, and daily 9/14–10/18.
※3 departures (8:20, 8:50, 16:50, 17:20) = suspended 11/9–11/30 (run daily the rest of the period).

Reference: Central Alps Komagatake Ropeway timetable page (2026 PDF)

Parking and access by car (Suganodai Bus Center)

If you drive, park at the Suganodai Bus Center parking lot (about 300 spaces, entry and exit 24 hours) and transfer to the same local bus shown above (Suganodai Bus Center → Shirabidaira: about 30 minutes, ¥830 one way). From about 1 km beyond Suganodai Bus Center the road is closed to private vehicles, so you cannot drive to Shirabidaira. The lot is about 3 minutes by car from the Komagane IC.

Parking costs ¥800/day for cars and ¥200/day for motorcycles (large buses ¥1,500; minibuses and campervans ¥1,000). When the lot is full, staff will direct you to nearby overflow parking. On busy-season mornings both the buses and the parking lot get crowded, so arriving early is recommended.

Reference: Central Alps Komagatake Ropeway (access & parking)

Kiso-Komagatake Hiking Routes, Difficulty and Best Season

Kiso-Komagatake, the highest peak of the Central Alps at 2,956 m, can be reached surprisingly easily thanks to the Komagatake Ropeway, which lifts you straight up to Senjojiki at 2,612 m. That lets you enjoy a 3,000 m-class ridgeline with relatively little effort. The glacial Senjojiki Cirque and its alpine flowers are the mountain’s signature. This section sums up the main routes, how demanding they are and the best time to climb.

Main routes

• Senjojiki Cirque round trip (the classic): from Senjojiki Station of the Komagatake Ropeway (2,612 m), the trail climbs over Norikoshi-jodo and Nakadake to the summit of Kiso-Komagatake and back. About 3.6 km, roughly 425 m of cumulative ascent and about 2 hours 40 minutes on the trail, technical grade B–C. The small elevation gain lets even novice-to-intermediate hikers stand on a 3,000 m-class summit.
• Side trip to Hokendake (advanced): Hokendake, the rocky peak rising behind Senjojiki, is an advanced route with chained sections and real exposure. Its difficulty is well above the Kiso-Komagatake round trip, so take it on only with the right experience and gear.

Difficulty and stamina: because the ropeway carries you up to 2,612 m, the walking time is short, but the climb to Norikoshi-jodo is steep and includes loose, rocky ground. As a 3,000 m-class peak it carries a risk of altitude sickness and sudden weather changes. The ridge is windy, so pack warm layers and rain gear even in summer.

Best season: July to September, when the alpine flowers bloom, and the autumn colours from late September into early October are especially popular. The ropeway runs year-round, but from late autumn into spring there is snow and ice even at Senjojiki, so a winter climb calls for full snow gear and experience.

Highlights: the glacier-carved Senjojiki Cirque and its headwall, the summer flower meadows, and the sweeping view from the summit taking in the Southern Alps and Mount Ontake. Mountain huts such as Chojo-sanso and Hoken-sanso lie along the way.