Mt. Minami

Mt. Minami (南岳, 3,033 m), on the border of Matsumoto (Nagano) and Takayama (Gifu), is the peak south of Mt. Yari and the sixteenth-highest mountain in Japan. It is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
The Minamidake hut stands just south of the summit, at the north end of the Daikiretto — one of the hardest sections in the Northern Alps; the peak sits at the heart of the Yari–Hotaka traverse. The usual route either goes via the Yarigatake Sanso hut and south along the ridge, or up the Minamidake Shindo from the Hida side straight to the Minamidake hut. By public transport you reach Kamikochi (Nagano side) or Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side) and use the Minamidake hut as a base.

The base is Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1,500 m); via Yokoo and Yarisawa you reach the Yarigatake Sanso hut (about 8 h 30 m from Kamikochi), then south over Mt. Obami and Mt. Naka about 2 h 30 m to Mt. Minami. As it is long, stay at the Yarigatake Sanso hut or the Minamidake hut. On the Hida side, climb the Minamidake Shindo from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via the Migimata valley and the Yaridaira hut to the Minamidake hut (about 7 hours, the shortest route to Mt. Minami).
The Minamidake hut (tel 090-4524-9448, open July 11–October 11, 2026) sits just below the summit at the entrance to the Daikiretto; the Yarigatake Sanso hut (tel 090-2641-1911, open 27 April–3 November 2026) is also a base. The season is mid-July to early October; before that, front-point crampons and an ice axe are needed. The Daikiretto south of Mt. Minami is for experts 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 reach Mt. Minami 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). From Shin-Hotaka Onsen you go up the Migimata valley and the Yaridaira hut and climb the Minamidake Shindo straight to the Minamidake hut (the shortest route to Mt. Minami; see below).

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

Note on the Hida-side route (Minamidake Shindo): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Migimata valley → Yaridaira hut → Minamidake Shindo → Minamidake hut is about 7 hours, with a stay at the Yaridaira hut. It is the shortest route to Mt. Minami, but the Minamidake Shindo is a steep climb with continuous ladders and wooden steps, and snow may linger until late July. Check the latest conditions with the Minamidake and Yaridaira huts before setting out.

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

Route and safety notes

Route ① (standard, from Kamikochi, ridge): Kamikochi → Yokoo (about 3 h) → Yarisawa Lodge (about 1 h 30 m) → Babadaira (about 30 m) → Tengubara junction (about 1 h 30 m) → Yarigatake Sanso (about 2 h) → Mt. Obami → Mt. Naka → Mt. Minami (about 2 h 30 m). Kamikochi to Mt. Minami is about 11 hours one way, so stay at the Yarigatake Sanso hut or the Minamidake hut (two nights and three days is comfortable).

Route ② (Hida side, Minamidake Shindo): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Migimata valley → Yaridaira hut → Minamidake Shindo → Minamidake hut → Mt. Minami, about 7 hours. The shortest route to Mt. Minami, with a stay at the Yaridaira hut; the Minamidake Shindo is a steep climb with continuous ladders and wooden steps.

Huts: just below the summit is the Minamidake hut (tel 090-4524-9448, open July 11–October 11, 2026), at the entrance to the Daikiretto, with a campsite. On the ridge to the north is the Yarigatake Sanso (tel 090-2641-1911, open 27 Apr–3 Nov 2026).

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 Daikiretto: starting just south of Mt. Minami, the Daikiretto is one of the hardest sections in the Northern Alps, with sheer rock such as the Hasegawa Peak and the A-sawa col, for experts only. The route to Mt. Minami is a general trail, but the Daikiretto raises the difficulty sharply; general hikers stay at Mt. Minami and the hut.

On the ridge: the 3,000 m ridge has scree and narrow sections; take care over strong wind, lightning and falls. The out-and-back to the Yari spire (continuous chains and ladders) is a separate crux.

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, Public Domain