Mt. Kitahotaka

Mt. Kitahotaka (北穂高岳, 3,106 m), on the border of Matsumoto (Nagano) and Takayama (Gifu), is the northern peak of the Hotaka range and the ninth-highest mountain in Japan. It is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
Just below the summit stands the Kitahotaka-goya hut, the highest hut in Japan (about 3,100 m); the summit looks straight across to Mt. Yari and down the Daikiretto — one of the most popular peaks in the Hotaka range. The usual route climbs from Kamikochi via Yokoo and Karasawa, up the steep Nanryo ridge, with a night at Karasawa or the Kitahotaka hut — at least two days. By public transport you reach Kamikochi (Nagano side) or Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side) and then traverse to the summit.

The base is Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1,500 m); via Yokoo (about 3 h), Hontanibashi (about 1 h 10 m) and Karasawa (about 2 h) you climb the chains and ladders of the steep Nanryo ridge to Mt. Kitahotaka (about 3 h 10 m). It is about 9 hours 20 minutes one way from Kamikochi, with about 1,606 m of gain, and an overnight at Karasawa or the Kitahotaka hut usual. The Kitahotaka-goya hut just below the summit (reservations only, tel 090-1422-8886 [7:00–19:00], open 28 April–3 November 2026) is the base.
The season is mid-July to early October once the snow has gone; before that, front-point crampons and an ice axe are needed. The Daikiretto to Mt. Minami and the ridge to Mt. Karasawa and the Hotakadake Sanso hut are among the hardest sections in the Hotaka range and are outside the scope of this article.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (trailhead)
2. [Return] Kamikochi (trailhead) → Shin-Shimashima Station
3. [Round trip] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side)

1. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (trailhead)

The Nagano-side base is Shin-Shimashima Station, about 24 minutes from Matsumoto Station on the Matsumoto Dentetsu Kamikochi Line; from here take the Alpico Kotsu bus bound for Kamikochi to the terminus, Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1 hour 30 minutes). As Kamikochi is closed to private cars year-round, the bus is the basic way in (2026 service April 17–November 15; closed in winter). The direct “Sawayaka Shinshu-go” express bus also runs from Shinjuku and Osaka.

Bus timetable ①: Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (Alpico Kotsu, outbound)

Sawayaka Shinshu-go (direct express): Shinjuku 22:57 → Kamikochi 5:20 next day (night service), Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai) 21:30 → 5:20 next day, etc. Book via Highway Bus Dot Com. By car: change to a Kamikochi bus or taxi at the Sawando (Matsumoto side) or Akandana (Takayama side) car parks.

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Kamikochi Line (Shin-Shimashima–Kamikochi)]

2. [Return] Kamikochi (trailhead) → Shin-Shimashima Station

After descending, take the Alpico Kotsu bus from Kamikochi Bus Terminal back to Shin-Shimashima Station and the Kamikochi Line to Matsumoto (bus about 1 hour 30 minutes plus rail about 24 minutes). The return runs about every 40 minutes during the day, with the last bus leaving Kamikochi at 17:55. The long descent from Karasawa takes time, so keep margin for the last bus.

Bus timetable ②: Kamikochi → Shin-Shimashima Station (Alpico Kotsu, return)

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Kamikochi Line (Shin-Shimashima–Kamikochi)]

3. [Round trip] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side)

To enter the Hotaka range from the Hida side, take the Nohi Bus from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center in front of JR Takayama Station via Hirayu Onsen to the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway (Shin-Hotaka Onsen) — about 1 hour 45 minutes, fare 2,200 yen. Hirayu Onsen is the transfer hub; you can also reach Shin-Hotaka Onsen from Matsumoto via Shin-Shimashima and Sawando (Matsumoto–Shin-Hotaka Onsen 3,910 yen, by reservation). However, there is no easy general trail straight from Shin-Hotaka to Mt. Kitahotaka, so the Hida-side approach is an advanced traverse (see below).

Bus timetable ③: Takayama Nohi BC ⇄ Shin-Hotaka Ropeway (Nohi Bus)

Note on the Hida-side approach to Mt. Kitahotaka: from Shin-Hotaka Onsen you reach Mt. Kitahotaka either via the Minamidake Shindo to Mt. Minami and over the Daikiretto, or via Shirade-sawa, the Hotakadake Sanso hut and Mt. Karasawa — both advanced rocky ridges with continuous chains and ladders. General hikers use the Nanryo ridge from Karasawa on the Nagano side. Shirade-sawa needs a helmet for rockfall and snow lingers until late July; check the latest conditions with the huts before setting out.

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

Route and safety notes

Route ① (standard, Nagano side): Kamikochi → Yokoo (about 3 h) → Hontanibashi (about 1 h 10 m) → Karasawa (about 2 h) → Nanryo ridge → Mt. Kitahotaka (about 3 h 10 m). Kamikochi to the summit is about 9 h 20 m one way, about 16 km, with about 1,606 m of gain, staying at Karasawa or the Kitahotaka hut over one night and two days to two nights and three days. The upper Nanryo from Karasawa is a steep climb with continuous chains and ladders.

Huts: Karasawa has the Karasawa-goya and Karasawa Hutte; just below the summit is the Kitahotaka-goya, the highest hut in Japan (about 3,100 m) (reservations only, tel 090-1422-8886 [7:00–19:00], open 28 Apr–3 Nov 2026). Many stay at Karasawa and climb Kitahotaka the next day, or stay at the Kitahotaka hut and continue the Yari–Hotaka traverse.

Route ② (Hida side, for the experienced): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Minamidake Shindo → Mt. Minami → Daikiretto → Mt. Kitahotaka, or Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Shirade-sawa → Hotakadake Sanso → Mt. Karasawa → Mt. Kitahotaka. Both are rocky ridge traverses with continuous chains and ladders, not for general hikers.

Access and buses: on the Nagano side take the Kamikochi bus from Shin-Shimashima Station (outbound Shin-Shimashima 7:10 → Kamikochi 8:18); on the Hida side from Takayama to Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Takayama 7:00 → 8:16). Kamikochi is car-restricted year-round, so the bus is essential.

The Nanryo ridge: the climb from Karasawa to Mt. Kitahotaka is a steep, exposed ridge with continuous chains and ladders; take care over falls and rockfall, and allow time for two-way passing.

The Daikiretto (toward Mt. Minami): the Daikiretto from Mt. Kitahotaka to Mt. Minami is one of the hardest sections in the Hotaka range, for experts only, with sheer rock like the Hasegawa Peak and Hida-naki; general hikers should not enter.

Toward Mt. Karasawa: the ridge from Mt. Kitahotaka to Mt. Karasawa and the Hotakadake Sanso hut is also a hard section with continuous chains and ladders.

Season and gear: the season is mid-July to early October; in the snow season front-point crampons and an ice axe are essential. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a helmet and a headlamp.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest via the Nagano and Gifu Northern Alps mountain-rescue councils.

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