Mt. Naka

Mt. Naka (中岳, 3,084 m), on the border of Matsumoto (Nagano) and Takayama (Gifu), stands between Mt. Yari and Mt. Minami and is the twelfth-highest mountain in Japan. It is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
About 50 minutes from the Yarigatake Sanso hut over Mt. Obami; a waypoint on the Yari–Hotaka traverse, with a long iron ladder on the north face just below the summit. The usual route goes up the Yarisawa valley from Kamikochi, with a night at the Yarigatake Sanso hut or the Minamidake hut, walking the ridge to the summit. By public transport you reach Kamikochi (Nagano side) or Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side) and use a ridge hut as a base.

The base is Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1,500 m); via Yokoo (about 3 h), the Yarisawa Lodge (about 1 h 30 m) and Babadaira you reach the Yarigatake Sanso hut from the Tengubara junction (about 8 h 30 m from Kamikochi), and it is about 50 minutes from the hut over Mt. Obami to the summit of Mt. Naka. A night at the Yarisawa Lodge, the Yarigatake Sanso hut or the Minamidake hut is usual. On the Hida side it is about 8 hours from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via the Migimata valley and the Yaridaira hut to the Hida-norikoshi (stay at the Yaridaira hut).
On the ridge use the Yarigatake Sanso hut (reservations only, tel 090-2641-1911, open 27 April–3 November 2026) or the Minamidake hut 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. A long iron ladder on the north face just below the summit calls for care over falls.

*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. Yari and Mt. Naka 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 to the Hida-norikoshi pass and the Yarigatake Sanso hut (see below).

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

Note on the Hida-side route: Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Migimata valley → Yaridaira hut → Hida-norikoshi → Yarigatake Sanso is about 8 hours, with a stay at the Yaridaira hut. The climb up to the Hida-norikoshi is steep and snow lingers until late July, so crampons may be needed. Check the latest conditions with the Yarigatake Sanso and Yaridaira huts before setting out.

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

Route and safety notes

Route ① (standard, from Kamikochi): 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 (about 50 m). Kamikochi to the hut is about 8 h 30 m one way, about 19 km, with about 1,600 m of gain, staying at the Yarisawa Lodge, Babadaira or a ridge hut over one night and two days to two nights and three days.

Huts: on the north side of the ridge the Yarigatake Sanso (reservations only, tel 090-2641-1911, open 27 Apr–3 Nov 2026); on the south side the Minamidake hut (tel 090-4524-9448, open July 11–October 11, 2026). Mt. Naka sits midway between them and can be reached from either.

Route ② (Hida side): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Migimata valley → Yaridaira hut → Hida-norikoshi → Yarigatake Sanso → Mt. Obami → Mt. Naka, about 8 h 30 m, with a stay at the Yaridaira hut.

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 iron ladder on Mt. Naka: just below the summit on the north (Obami) side a long iron ladder runs continuously, with real exposure; there are scree and narrow sections too, so take care over strong wind, lightning and falls.

The Yari spire: the out-and-back to the summit of Mt. Yari is a vertical rock face with continuous chains and ladders, a separate crux from Mt. Naka; allow plenty of time and energy.

Toward Mt. Minami and the Daikiretto: from Mt. Naka the ridge to Mt. Minami runs via the Tengubara junction; beyond Mt. Minami is the Daikiretto, one of the hardest sections in the Northern Alps (for experts).

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 Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0