Mt. Nakamorimaru

Mt. Nakamorimaru (Nakamorimaruyama, 2,807 m) rises on the border of Nagano and Shizuoka Prefectures along the main ridge of the Akaishi Range in the southern Southern Alps. It stands roughly midway between Mt. Akaishi and Mt. Hijiri (Mt. Sacred), between Mt. Osawa and Mt. Usagi (and Mt. Kousagi), and is one of Japan’s 100 Highest Mountains (Hyakukōzan).
True to its name (naka-mori-maru, “rounded swell”), it is a grassy, gently domed peak whose summit commands a wide panorama of Mt. Akaishi, Mt. Hijiri, Mt. Osawa and the distant Arakawa Three Peaks. It is not a peak you climb on its own: most hikers reach it during a two-night-or-longer traverse from Sawarajima over Mt. Akaishi to the Hyakkendoro area, or as part of the three-night Akaishi–Hijiri circuit. By public transport, you travel to the Sawarajima Lodge trailhead and then cross Mt. Akaishi to reach the summit.

The starting point is Sawarajima Lodge (about 1,120 m). You spend one night at Akaishi-goya, climb Mt. Akaishi, cross the Hyakkendaira plateau and stay a second night at Hyakkendoro-yamanoie (about 2,465 m); from there Mt. Nakamorimaru is a round trip of about 2 hours (roughly 1.1 km and 342 m of climb one way). The peak sits at the heart of the three-night Akaishi–Hijiri circuit (Nakamorimaru – Mt. Kousagi – Mt. Usagi – Mt. Hijiri down to Hijiridaira Hut), and the ridge involves substantial ups and downs.
The Sawarajima Lodge trailhead is reached by the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus (reserved guests of affiliated huts only). The best season is mid-July to September, once the snow has melted; outside this window, crampons and an ice axe are required. This is one of the most remote parts of the Southern Alps and needs at least two nights, so plan a generous itinerary and carry full equipment.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

For more detail on access to Sawarajima and Mt. Akaishi itself, see the Mt. Akaishi page.

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Sawarajima Lodge
2. [Outbound] Shizuoka Station → Sawarajima Lodge
3. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shinjuku Station
4. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shizuoka Station

1. [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Sawarajima Lodge

Step 1. Takebashi Station → Hatanagi summer car park
From Takebashi or Hachioji in Tokyo, take the overnight Mainichi Alpen-go bus toward Hatanagi Dam / Ikawa and get off at the Hatanagi summer car park (reservation required).
Operating period: selected dates, typically mid-July to mid-October (varies by year). Fare: from ¥15,500 (Takebashi → Sawarajima Lodge). Travel time: about 7 hours (overnight).

Step 2. Hatanagi summer car park → Sawarajima Lodge
At the Hatanagi summer car park, transfer to the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus and ride to Sawarajima Lodge (reservation required). Travel time: about 1 hour. An early-morning arrival connects to the 7:30 departure.

2. [Outbound] Shizuoka Station → Sawarajima Lodge

Step 1. Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi summer car park
From Shizuoka Station, reach Hatanagi by the Shizutetsu “Minami Alps Tozan Line” bus or the Chiyoda Taxi shared jumbo taxi “Minami Alps Access Pack” (both require reservation).
Note: the times below are for reference based on the 2025 season; confirm the 2026 schedule and fares with each operator.

Step 2. Hatanagi summer car park → Sawarajima Lodge
Transfer to the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus at the Hatanagi summer car park (reservation required). An arrival between 13:10 and 14:15 connects to the 15:00 departure, reaching Sawarajima Lodge at 16:10. Travel time: about 1 hour.

3. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shinjuku Station

Step 1. Sawarajima Lodge → Hatanagi summer car park
Ride the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus from Sawarajima Lodge and get off at the Hatanagi summer car park (reservation required). Travel time: about 1 hour.

Step 2. Hatanagi summer car park → Shinjuku Station
From the Hatanagi summer car park, take the Mainichi Alpen-go bus “Hatanagi Dam ⇒ Shinjuku” to the Shinjuku terminus (reservation required). Operating period: selected dates, typically mid-July to mid-October. Fare: from ¥15,500. Travel time: about 6–7 hours.

4. [Return] Sawarajima Lodge → Shizuoka Station

Step 1. Sawarajima Lodge → Hatanagi summer car park
Ride the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus from Sawarajima Lodge and get off at the Hatanagi summer car park (reservation required). Travel time: about 1 hour.

Step 2. Hatanagi summer car park → Shizuoka Station
From the Hatanagi summer car park, take the Shizutetsu “Minami Alps Tozan Line” bus to Shizuoka Station (reservation required; fare ¥3,500). The times below are for reference based on the 2025 season. The Access Pack (Chiyoda Taxi) also runs a descent service; confirm the current schedule with each operator.

Climbing routes and safety notes

Route 1 (standard, via Mt. Akaishi / 2 nights or more): Sawarajima Lodge (1,120 m) → Akaishi-goya (about 4 hours, overnight) → Mt. Akaishi (about 2 hours 30 min) → Hyakkendaira → Hyakkendoro-yamanoie (about 2 hours 20 min from Mt. Akaishi, overnight) → Mt. Nakamorimaru (round trip of about 2 hours from the hut). The practical approach is a round trip from Hyakkendoro-yamanoie, about 1.1 km and 342 m of climb each way. Stronger hikers add Mt. Osawa and Mt. Nakamorimaru while descending from Mt. Akaishi to Hyakkendoro.

Route 2 (Akaishi–Hijiri circuit / 3 nights): Sawarajima → Akaishi-goya → Mt. Akaishi → Hyakkendoro-yamanoie (overnight) → Mt. Nakamorimaru → Mt. Kousagi → Mt. Usagi → Mt. Hijiri → Hijiridaira Hut (overnight) → Sawarajima. The Nakamorimaru–Usagi–Hijiri section is the crux; the stretch from Mae-Hijiri to Hyakkendoro-yamanoie (via Mt. Osawa) takes about 7 hours 50 min. The ridge has large ups and downs, and the descents below Mt. Usagi and toward the Hijiri–Usagi col are steep, loose scree where rockfall and slipping are hazards.

Summit and views: The summit of Mt. Nakamorimaru is a rounded, open grassy dome with a 360-degree view of Mt. Akaishi, the Arakawa Three Peaks, Mt. Osawa, Mt. Hijiri and Mt. Usagi.

Mountain huts (all require reservation):
• Sawarajima Lodge (1,120 m): April 26 – November 15, 2026; tel. 0547-46-4717 (Tokushu Tokai Forest). The base for the shuttle bus.
• Akaishi-goya (about 2,540 m): July 11 – October 11, 2026; tel. 0547-46-4717 (reservation center).
• Hyakkendoro-yamanoie (about 2,465 m): in 2026, hut lodging runs July 11 – August 31 (planned) due to renovation work, while tent sites (about 20 tents, ¥2,000 per person) and the shop continue until the work is finished. Capacity 30; water source and toilet on site; tel. 0547-46-4717. Its specialty is tonkatsu (pork cutlet).
• Hijiridaira Hut (about 2,260 m): unstaffed-style, lodging without meals only (¥9,000 per night, ¥8,000 with your own sleeping bag); reserve through the Ikawa Tourism Association hut booking site.
• Usagidake and Akaishidake emergency huts: shelters (the Akaishidake emergency hut offers lodging July 11 – September 22, 2026).

Season and equipment: The best season is mid-July to September, after the snow melts. Outside this window or in bad weather, crampons and an ice axe are required. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp and ample food, and check escape routes and the weather in advance for this remote traverse. Mobile-phone coverage is patchy and water is available only at the huts.

In an emergency: Call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue). Check the mountain-accident information from the Shizuoka and Nagano Prefectural Police and the latest local updates from Tokushu Tokai Forest before you set out.

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