Mt. Usagi

Mount Usagi (Usagidake, 2,818 m) rises on the main ridge of the southern Akaishi Mountains (Southern Japanese Alps), on the border between Iida City (Nagano) and Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. It is counted among Japan’s 100 Highest Mountains. No trail climbs the summit directly: Mount Usagi is a peak on the ridge linking Mount Hijiri and Mount Akaishi, reached only as part of a traverse — a quiet, remote summit deep in the range.

*Timetable last checked: 2026-06-14

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Hijirisawa trailhead
2. [Return] Hijirisawa trailhead → Shinjuku Station

1. [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Hijirisawa trailhead

Step 1.
From Takebashi Station or Hachioji Station in Tokyo, take the Mainichi Alpen-go bus bound for the Hatanagi Dam / Ikawa area and get off at the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot. (Reservation required.)

Step 2.
At the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot, transfer to the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus and get off at the Hijirisawa trailhead. (Reservation required.)

Step 1 Fare: from ¥15,500 / Ride time: approx. 7 hours (overnight)
Step 2 Ride time: approx. 1 hour (shuttle bus; free for guests of affiliated huts)

Bus TimetableConnecting buses to the Hijirisawa trailhead

2. [Return] Hijirisawa trailhead → Shinjuku Station

Step 1.
From the Hijirisawa trailhead, take the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus and get off at the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot. (Reservation required.)

Step 2.
From the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot, take the Mainichi Alpen-go bus bound for Shinjuku and ride to the terminus at Shinjuku Station. (Reservation required.)

[Note]
The shuttle bus is for hikers staying at huts managed or affiliated with Tokushu Tokai Forest (Seidaira-goya, Sawarajima Lodge, etc.). Tent-only campers cannot use it.

Step 1 Ride time: approx. 1 hour (shuttle bus; free for guests of affiliated huts)
Step 2 Fare: from ¥15,500 / Ride time: approx. 6–7 hours

Bus TimetableConnecting buses from the Hijirisawa trailhead to Shinjuku

Operating season: typically mid-July to mid-October (varies by year)
References: Maitabi (Mainichi Alpen-go) | Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus

3. Climbing routes, the crux and estimated trail times

The summit of Mount Usagi lies on the north–south main ridge of the Akaishi Mountains, with Mount Hijiri (3,013 m) to the south and Ko-Usagidake (2,738 m), Nakamorimaruyama (2,807 m) and Mount Osawa (2,819 m) to the north. About 100 m east just below the summit stands the Usagidake emergency hut, a waypoint on the southern Southern-Alps traverse.

● Via Mount Hijiri (out-and-back from the Hijirisawa trailhead; the most common option)
From the Hijirisawa trailhead, climb to Seidaira-goya hut, then cross Ko-Hijiri and Mount Hijiri and traverse north. The crux from Mount Hijiri to Mount Usagi is to descend about 300 m straight down to the Usagi col, then climb back up about 200 m to Mount Usagi. The descent on the south side of Mount Hijiri is a steep slope of loose scree where falls and rockfall demand care.

● As part of the Mount Akaishi – Mount Hijiri traverse
From the Mount Akaishi / Hyakkenbora-yama-no-ie side, reach Mount Usagi via Mount Osawa, Nakamorimaruyama and Ko-Usagidake. The walking is on a ridge above the tree line, and because the south slope of Mount Usagi is a collapse zone, route-finding requires care in fog or strong wind.

Standard trail times for the main sections (summer / snow-free guide)

• Hijirisawa trailhead → Seidaira-goya hut: approx. 6 h 10 min (ascent, elevation gain approx. 1,390 m)
• Seidaira-goya hut → Ko-Hijiri → Mount Hijiri: approx. 2 h 50 min
• Mount Hijiri → Usagi col → Mount Usagi: approx. 1 h 50 min
• Mount Usagi → Ko-Usagidake → Nakamorimaruyama → Hyakkenbora-yama-no-ie hut: approx. 2 h 30 min

Recommended plan (3 nights / 4 days; a traverse combining Mount Hijiri and Mount Usagi)

• Day 1: Hijirisawa trailhead (arrive around 8:00) → Seidaira-goya hut (overnight)
• Day 2: Seidaira-goya → Mount Hijiri → Mount Usagi → (return over Mount Hijiri, or) Hyakkenbora-yama-no-ie hut / Usagidake emergency hut (overnight)
• Day 3: Over Mount Akaishi toward Akaishi-goya / Sawarajima, or back to Seidaira-goya
• Day 4: Descend and take the shuttle bus to Hatanagi

If Mount Usagi is your sole objective, a 2-night / 3-day out-and-back over Mount Hijiri from Seidaira-goya is the easiest plan to arrange. A day trip is impossible; one or two nights on the mountain are essential.

4. Huts, emergency shelter and contacts

Seidaira-goya hut (staffed)

• 2026 season: planned July 11 (Sat) – September 23 (Wed, holiday)
• Lodging is room-only (reservation required). No tents (the nearest tent site is Chausu-goya hut)
• Reservation: web booking site “2yu”, or phone 080-1560-6309 (10:00–14:00)
• Reference: Ikawa Tourism Association hut reservation site

Hyakkenbora-yama-no-ie hut (staffed; Mount Akaishi side)

• In 2026, due to repair work, hut lodging runs July 11 – August 31 (planned); tent camping and the shop continue until work is finished
• Reservation: phone 03-6265-6967 (reservations only, 10:00–16:00) / Tokushu Tokai Forest 0547-46-4717 (9:00–16:00)
• Reference: Tokushu Tokai Forest hut info

Usagidake emergency hut (unstaffed)

• About 100 m east just below the summit. Capacity approx. 8; interior renovated in 2009. Unstaffed — bring your own bedding, food and fuel.
• There is a water source in the stream (Oku-Akaishi-zawa) on the east side of the col with Ko-Usagidake, but it can run dry and cannot be relied upon. Secure enough water at Seidaira-goya, Hyakkenbora-yama-no-ie, etc.

Emergency contacts

• Nagano Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Iida Police Station: 0265-22-0110
• Shizuoka Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Shizuoka-Minami Police Station: 054-288-0110
• Shizuoka City, Aoi Ward Office, Ikawa Branch: 054-260-2211

Photo by Alpsdake