Mt. Subari

Mt. Subari (スバリ岳, 2,752 m), on the border of Omachi (Nagano) and Tateyama (Toyama) in the Ushiro-Tateyama range, stands just north of Mt. Harinoki and is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
A rocky peak reached by climbing the Harinoki Daisekkei, one of Japan’s three great snow valleys, from Ogizawa to the Harinoki Pass and over Mt. Harinoki. From the summit there is a grand view of Mt. Tate and Mt. Tsurugi across Lake Kurobe. The usual route is a night at the Harinoki hut (Harinoki Pass) from Ogizawa, climbing Mt. Subari together with Mt. Harinoki. By public transport you take the bus from Shinano-Omachi Station to Ogizawa and climb the Harinoki snow valley.

The base is Ogizawa (about 1,433 m); via the Osawa hut you climb the Harinoki Daisekkei to the Harinoki hut at the Harinoki Pass (about 2,536 m), about 5 hours from Ogizawa. From the pass it is about 1 hour 40 minutes over Mt. Harinoki (2,821 m) to Mt. Subari, about 6 hours 40 minutes one way from Ogizawa, usually with a night at the Harinoki hut to climb Mt. Harinoki and Mt. Subari and back. The Harinoki Daisekkei is climbed on snow until around July, so light crampons and an ice axe are needed; once the snow goes, a summer trail (high traverse) takes over.
Use the Harinoki hut (Harinoki Pass, about 2,536 m, reservations only, tel 090-2323-7145 (head office 0261-22-1584), open late June to nights of September 27, 2026, with a campsite) as a base. The season is mid-July to September once the snow valley is firm; before that, full snow gear is needed. The ridge north from Mt. Harinoki to Mt. Akazawa and Mt. Narusawa is a separate traverse and is outside the scope of this article.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Shinano-Omachi → Ogizawa (trailhead)
2. [Return] Ogizawa (trailhead) → Shinano-Omachi

1. [Outbound] Shinano-Omachi → Ogizawa (trailhead)

The trailhead, Ogizawa, is about 40 minutes by the Alpico Kotsu / Kita-Alps Kotsu Ogizawa-line bus from Shinano-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line. Ogizawa is the Nagano-side gateway of the Tateyama–Kurobe Alpine Route, and the bus runs daily in the spring–autumn season (April 15–November 30, 2026). Shinano-Omachi Station is about 1 hour from Matsumoto Station on the JR Oito Line. The Harinoki snow-valley trail starts right by the Ogizawa bus terminal.

Bus timetable ①: Shinano-Omachi Station → Ogizawa (Alpico Kotsu / Kita-Alps Kotsu, outbound)

By car: Ogizawa has paid and free hikers’ car parks. You can also board partway, at Omachi Onsenkyo and other stops. Check the latest times and fares with the official Ogizawa-line timetable.

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Ogizawa Line]

2. [Return] Ogizawa (trailhead) → Shinano-Omachi

After descending, take the Ogizawa-line bus back from Ogizawa to Shinano-Omachi Station (about 40 minutes). The Ogizawa-to-Shinano-Omachi service runs from a first bus at 7:05 to a last bus at 17:55. The descent of the Harinoki snow valley takes time, so keep margin for the last bus.

Bus timetable ②: Ogizawa → Shinano-Omachi Station (Alpico Kotsu / Kita-Alps Kotsu, return)

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Ogizawa Line]

Route and safety notes

Route (Harinoki snow valley, from Ogizawa): Ogizawa → Osawa hut (about 1 h) → Harinoki Daisekkei → Harinoki Pass / Harinoki hut (about 4 h) → Mt. Harinoki (about 1 h) → Mt. Subari (about 40 m). It is about 5 hours from Ogizawa to the Harinoki hut and about 6 h 40 m to Mt. Subari, usually as a two-day trip with a night at the Harinoki hut.

The Harinoki Daisekkei: one of Japan’s three great snow valleys, climbed directly on snow until around July. Light crampons and an ice axe are needed; take care over rockfall, slips and crevasses at the snout. Once the snow goes, a summer trail (a high traverse on the right bank) takes over.

Hut: at the Harinoki Pass is the Harinoki hut (about 2,536 m, reservations only, tel 090-2323-7145 (head office 0261-22-1584), open late June to nights of September 27, 2026, with a campsite). The Osawa hut, of the same group, is partway up the snow valley. From the Harinoki hut you can climb Mt. Harinoki, Mt. Subari and Mt. Renge and back.

The ridge to Mt. Subari: from the Harinoki Pass, cross Mt. Harinoki (2,821 m), drop north and climb again to Mt. Subari — a ridge of scree and rock, about 40 minutes from Mt. Harinoki. There are exposed sections; take care over falls, strong wind and lightning.

Traverse: a Ushiro-Tateyama traverse continues from Mt. Subari over Mt. Akazawa and Mt. Narusawa to the Shinkoetsu and Taneike huts, but it is a long, rugged advanced route. General hikers stay with the Mt. Harinoki and Mt. Subari out-and-back.

Season and gear: the season is mid-July to September. In the snow season full snow gear (crampons and an ice axe) is essential. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a helmet and a headlamp.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest with the Nagano and Toyama prefectural police.

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