Mt. Maehotaka

Mt. Maehotaka (前穂高岳, 3,090 m), on the border of Matsumoto (Nagano) and Takayama (Gifu), is a forward peak of the Hotaka range and the eleventh-highest mountain in Japan. It is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
A sharp triangular peak, the most prominent from Kamikochi and the Azusa River; the summit gives a grand view of Mt. Okuhotaka, Mt. Yari and Kamikochi below. It is linked to Mt. Okuhotaka by the Tsurio ridge. The usual route climbs from Kamikochi via Dakesawa and the steep Jutaro Shindo, leaving your pack at Kimikodaira to climb the summit and back. By public transport you reach Kamikochi (Nagano side) and climb from Dakesawa.

The base is Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1,500 m); via the Dakesawa hut (about 2,170 m, about 2 h 30 m) you climb the chains and ladders of the steep Jutaro Shindo to Kimikodaira (about 3 h), and it is about 30 minutes from Kimikodaira to the summit of Mt. Maehotaka, usually leaving your pack at Kimikodaira. It is about 6 hours one way from Kamikochi, with about 1,590 m of gain. The Jutaro Shindo is one of the steepest climbs in the Northern Alps; stay a night at the Dakesawa hut, or do it in a day if fit.
Use the Dakesawa hut (reservations only, tel 090-2546-2100, open 27 April–3 November 2026) as a 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 Tsurio ridge from Kimikodaira to Mt. Okuhotaka is an advanced traverse with continuous chains and is 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, the Hida-side route to Mt. Maehotaka runs from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via the Hotakadake Sanso hut, Mt. Okuhotaka and the Tsurio ridge — for experts only; general hikers use the Jutaro Shindo from Kamikochi and Dakesawa.

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

Note on the Hida-side approach to Mt. Maehotaka: from Shin-Hotaka Onsen you reach Mt. Maehotaka via Shirade-sawa, the Hotakadake Sanso hut, Mt. Okuhotaka and the Tsurio ridge — a long advanced rocky traverse with continuous chains. General hikers use the Jutaro Shindo from Kamikochi and Dakesawa. 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, from Kamikochi): Kamikochi → Dakesawa hut (about 2 h 30 m) → Jutaro Shindo → Kimikodaira (about 3 h) → Mt. Maehotaka (about 30 m). Kamikochi to the summit is about 6 hours one way, with about 1,590 m of gain, usually with a night at the Dakesawa hut (or a long day if fit). Leave your pack at Kimikodaira for the summit and back.

The Jutaro Shindo: from the Dakesawa hut to Kimikodaira this is one of the steepest climbs in the Northern Alps, with continuous chains, ladders and rock. Landmarks include the Raicho-hiroba, Kamoshika-no-tachiba and Dakesawa Panorama; take special care on the descent.

Hut: the Dakesawa hut (about 2,170 m, reservations only, tel 090-2546-2100, open 27 Apr–3 Nov 2026, with a campsite) is only about 2 h 30 m from Kamikochi — handy as a base for a Mae–Okuhotaka circuit.

Access and buses: reach Kamikochi by Alpico Kotsu bus from Shin-Shimashima Station (outbound Shin-Shimashima 7:10 → Kamikochi 8:18). Kamikochi is car-restricted year-round, so the bus is essential; on the way back the last bus leaves Kamikochi at 17:55.

The Tsurio ridge (toward Mt. Okuhotaka): from Kimikodaira to Mt. Okuhotaka the Tsurio ridge is an advanced traverse with continuous chains; the Mae–Okuhotaka circuit (up the Jutaro Shindo, across to Okuhotaka, down the Zaitengrat) is an advanced one-to-two-night plan. General hikers stay with the Maehotaka out-and-back.

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