Mt. Korenge

Mt. Korenge (小蓮華山, 2,766 m), on the border of Nagano and Niigata, is a peak of the Ushiro-Tateyama range in the Northern Alps and one of the 100 Highest Mountains. It is the highest point in Niigata Prefecture and is also known as Mt. Dainichi.
It sits on the broad, gentle ridge linking Hakuba-ōike and Mt. Shirouma, famous for views of the three Hakuba peaks, Mt. Yukikura and Mt. Asahi, for its alpine flower meadows and as a habitat of the rock ptarmigan. In 2007 the summit partly collapsed and its height was revised from 2,769 m to 2,766 m; an iron sword and a stone Buddha stand on top. By public transport you go up from Tsugaike Kogen on the Tsugaike Panorama Way to Tsugaike Shizen-en and climb via Hakuba-ōike.

The base is Tsugaike Shizen-en (about 1,900 m), the top of the Tsugaike Panorama Way. It is about 3 hours 30 minutes over Tengu-hara and Mt. Hakuba-norikura to Hakuba-ōike (Hakuba-ōike-sansō hut, about 2,380 m), and about 2 hours from Hakuba-ōike via Funakoshi-no-kashira to Mt. Korenge — about 5 hours 30 minutes in all from Tsugaike Shizen-en. Many hikers stay a night at the Hakuba-ōike-sansō and traverse from Mt. Korenge on to Mt. Shirouma.
The base hut on the shore of Hakuba-ōike is the Hakuba-ōike-sansō (open June 20–October 12, 2026; reservations required online for both beds and tents via the Hakuba-kan group; inquiries Hakuba-kan tel. 0261-72-2002). The best season is mid-July to early October, after the snow settles; earlier in the season crossing the snow above Tengu-hara requires front-point crampons and an ice axe. Buses to Tsugaike Kogen arrive late in the morning, so a public-transport day trip is hard; staying at the Hakuba-ōike-sansō, or an early start by staying nearby the night before, by night bus or by car, is realistic.

*Timetable last checked: Jun 14, 2026

Access to the trailhead (Tsugaike Shizen-en)

1. [Outbound] Hakuba Sta. → Tsugaike Kogen → Tsugaike Shizen-en
2. [Return] Tsugaike Shizen-en → Tsugaike Kogen → Hakuba Sta.

1. [Outbound] Hakuba Sta. → Tsugaike Kogen → Tsugaike Shizen-en

From in front of Hakuba Station on the JR Ōito Line, take an Alpico bus (the limited express Nagano–Hakuba line or the local Tsugaike Kogen service) to Tsugaike Kogen (about 30 min). At Tsugaike Kogen, change to the Tsugaike Panorama Way (gondola lift “Eve” + Tsugaike Ropeway) to its top at Tsugaike Shizen-en (about 25 min). Buses from Hakuba Station reach Tsugaike Kogen late in the morning, so for an early start stay at Tsugaike Kogen the night before, or use the overnight “Mainichi Arupen-gō” bus from Tokyo or a car. Tsugaike Shizen-en is the start of the climb.

Bus timetable: Hakuba Sta. → Tsugaike Kogen (Alpico)

Tsugaike Panorama Way: the 2026 green season runs June 6–October 25. Fares are ¥3,680 round trip (without park entry) and ¥2,100 one way (without park entry) for adults. The table below shows the operating hours (first and last runs vary by season).

Tsugaike Panorama Way operating hours (Tsugaike Kogen ⇄ Tsugaike Shizen-en, about 25 min)

Trailhead: the Tsugaike Shizen-en station. Climb toward Tengu-hara from beside the visitor center. By car: there is a hikers’ car park at Tsugaike Kogen, and catching the first gondola lets you start earlier than by public transport.

Reference: [Alpico Tsugaike line] [Tsugaike Panorama Way]

2. [Return] Tsugaike Shizen-en → Tsugaike Kogen → Hakuba Sta.

After the descent, take the Tsugaike Panorama Way down from Tsugaike Shizen-en to Tsugaike Kogen (about 25 min; the last downhill run is as in the table above), then the Alpico bus from Tsugaike Kogen to Hakuba Station (about 31 min). The long descent from Hakuba-ōike takes time, so allow plenty of margin for the last ropeway run and the bus.

Bus timetable: Tsugaike Kogen → Hakuba Sta. (Alpico)

Reference: [Alpico Tsugaike line]

Route and safety notes

Route (Tsugaike Shizen-en–Hakuba-ōike–Mt. Korenge): Tsugaike Shizen-en (about 1,900 m) → Tengu-hara (about 2,180 m; about 1 h 30 min) → Mt. Hakuba-norikura (about 2,469 m; about 1 hour) → Hakuba-ōike / Hakuba-ōike-sansō (about 2,380 m; about 1 hour) → Funakoshi-no-kashira → Mt. Korenge (about 2,766 m; about 2 hours). About 3 hours 30 minutes from Tsugaike Shizen-en to Hakuba-ōike and about 5 hours 30 minutes to Mt. Korenge. A two-day trip with a night at the Hakuba-ōike-sansō is usual, and from Mt. Korenge you can traverse on via Mikuni-zakai to Mt. Shirouma.

Lodging: on the shore of Hakuba-ōike is the Hakuba-ōike-sansō (about 2,380 m; open June 20–October 12, 2026; online reservations required for both beds and tents via the Hakuba-kan booking site; inquiries Hakuba-kan tel. 0261-72-2002; tent sites available). With the Hakuba-sansō and Hakuba-dake-chōjō-shukusha on the Mt. Shirouma side, it serves as a base for the traverse.

Tengu-hara to Mt. Hakuba-norikura: the climb from Tengu-hara to Mt. Hakuba-norikura is a steep ascent over large boulders, the crux of the route. In the snow season (roughly through early July) snow lingers above Tengu-hara, with a risk of slipping, so front-point crampons, an ice axe and self-arrest skills are needed. The summit of Mt. Hakuba-norikura is broad and flat, so take care not to lose the route in fog.

Hakuba-ōike to Mt. Korenge: from Hakuba-ōike the ridge rises gently through flower meadows and dwarf pine. Beyond Funakoshi-no-kashira is ptarmigan habitat, with sweeping views of the three Hakuba peaks, Mt. Yukikura and Mt. Asahi. The ridge is exposed, so take care in strong wind, lightning or fog, and do not push on in poor visibility.

The summit of Mt. Korenge: the summit is narrow after the 2007 collapse, with an iron sword and a stone Buddha missing its head. It is the highest point in Niigata Prefecture; when you stop, keep away from the edge on the collapsed side.

Season and gear: the snow-free season is mid-July to early October. It is high and chilly morning and evening, so carry rain gear, warm clothing, a hat and gloves. A headlamp, map, and ample water and food are essential.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue). The Nagano and Niigata Prefectural Police cover this border range. Check the latest trail and weather information at the Hakuba-ōike-sansō or the Tsugaike visitor center before setting out.

Photo by Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, CC0