Minamimasagodake

Minamimasagodake (2,713 m) lies in Ōmachi City, Nagano Prefecture, and is one of Japan’s 100 highest mountains.
It sits in the “Ura-Ginza” area of the southern Northern Alps, a quiet pass-over peak on the Takemura Shindō trail (which links Yumata Onsen with Mount Masago), midway between Mount Yumata and Mount Masago. There is no trail that climbs Minamimasagodake on its own; it is reached by following the Takemura Shindō from Yumata Onsen, or while traversing from Mount Noguchigoro or Mount Masago.
For public transport to the trailhead, take the Ura-Ginza climbers’ bus from JR Shinano-Ōmachi Station to Nanakura, then a designated taxi from Nanakura to Takase Dam, and walk from Takase Dam to Yumata Onsen.

The starting point is Takase Dam (about 1,270 m); from here it is about a 3-hour walk along the Takase River to Yumata Onsen (Seiransō). From Yumata Onsen you climb the Takemura Shindō, cross Mount Yumata (2,379 m) and reach Minamimasagodake. From Yumata Onsen to the Masago junction is about 6 hours 50 minutes up and about 4 hours 25 minutes down—a long, advanced route that takes at least two days, with a first night at Yumata Onsen (Seiransō). The Takemura Shindō is a steep, quiet trail with narrow ridge sections and few hikers.
At Yumata Onsen, Seiransō is open from July 17 to October 18 in 2026 (reservations required) and is a mountain hut with a hot spring. The season runs from mid-July to mid-October while the hut is open. Between Takase Dam and Yumata Onsen, take care at river crossings and suspension bridges when the water is high. Always check the latest trail and hut conditions before you go.

*Information last verified: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailheads

1. [Round trip] Shinano-Ōmachi Station → Nanakura → Takase Dam (trailhead)

1. [Round trip] Shinano-Ōmachi Station → Nanakura → Takase Dam (trailhead)

Shinano-Ōmachi Station on the JR Ōito Line is the gateway. To reach Takase Dam you connect a summer-season climbers’ bus with a designated taxi.

① Shinano-Ōmachi Station → Nanakura (Ura-Ginza climbers’ bus)
Take Ōmachi City’s “Ura-Ginza climbers’ bus” and get off at Nanakura. It runs via Ōmachi Onsenkyō and Kuzu Onsen, takes about 45 minutes, and costs ¥1,500 one way for adults (no reservation needed). It operates on selected days from July 17 to October 25, 2026, with four round trips a day (including an early-morning service timed for hikers). Always check the official operating calendar for the running days and exact times of each service. Outside the operating period or on non-running days, take a taxi from Shinano-Ōmachi Station to Nanakura.

② Nanakura → Takase Dam (designated taxi)
The road from Nanakura to Takase Dam is a TEPCO management road closed to general vehicles, so you take a designated taxi (about ¥2,700 per ordinary car, about 15 minutes) or walk about 1 hour 30 minutes. In peak season (July–August) it runs from around 5 a.m. Mobile reception is poor around Takase Dam, so it is safer to book the return taxi in advance.
― Alpico Taxi Ōmachi Branch 0261-23-2323
― Alps Daiichi Kōtsū 0261-22-2121

Inquiries: For the latest bus and trail information, contact the Ōmachi City Tourism Association (0261-22-0190).

Reference: [Ura-Ginza climbers’ bus (Ōmachi City)] / [Yumata Onsen Seiransō]

Climbing routes and safety notes

Route: Takase Dam → trail along the Takase River (about 3 hours on foot) → Yumata Onsen / Seiransō (overnight) → Takemura Shindō → Mount Yumata (2,379 m) → Minamimasagodake (2,713 m) → Masago junction. From Yumata Onsen to the Masago junction is about 6 hours 50 minutes up and 4 hours 25 minutes down, so this is an advanced route of two or more days, spending the first night at Yumata Onsen (Seiransō) and climbing the Takemura Shindō the next day. Strong hikers also do a loop, traversing south from Mount Noguchigoro and Mount Masago over Minamimasagodake and descending to Yumata.

Takemura Shindō and river crossings: The Takemura Shindō is a strenuous trail for fit hikers, with about 1,400 m of steep climbing and narrow ridge sections, and some stretches can be rough as few people walk it. The Takase Dam–Yumata Onsen section follows the Takase River, so take care at river crossings and suspension bridges when the water is high. On the ridge above the tree line, prepare for strong wind, lightning and route-finding difficulty, and carry a map and compass (GPS).

Hut and hot spring: At Yumata Onsen, Seiransō is open from July 17 to October 18 in 2026 (reservations required); it holds about 30 people, has about 20 tent spaces, and is a mountain hut with a hot spring. Both no-meal and half-board stays require booking in advance—check the latest status and reserve via the official site (seiransou.com). Water is scarce on the ridge, so refill at the hut.

Gear and season: The season runs from mid-July to mid-October. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS, and plenty of water and food. Bears live in the area, so take precautions such as a bear bell.
Emergencies: In an accident, call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
・Ōmachi Police Station 0261-22-0110

Photo by Koda6029 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0