Mt. Amakazari (雨飾山, 1,963 m) is a twin-peak mountain straddling Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture and Otari Village in Nagano Prefecture, within Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park — a 100 Famous Mountain of Japan (Kyūya Fukada’s selection).
Known for the “Goddess’s profile” silhouette of its twin peaks, the autumn-grass colours of Sasadaira (late September to early October), the beech forest, and the gorge scenery of Arasugesawa. The standard Amakazari-kogen course (Otari side, Amakazari-kogen campsite trailhead) is intermediate ★★★ / ~7 h round trip and popular even with intermediate hikers. The Yakushi-one course on the Itoigawa side is for advanced hikers.
How to access the trailheads
- [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Minami-Otari Station (JR Oito Line, via Hokuriku Shinkansen Nagano)
- [Round trip] Minami-Otari Station ⇔ Amakazari-kogen (Otari Village Bus, Amakazari-kogen line)
- Amakazari-kogen Campsite, Amakazari-so, suggested plans
Standard times (Amakazari-kogen course out-and-back, intermediate, ~7 hours)
Amakazari-kogen Campsite (1,200 m) → (1:30) → Buna-daira → (1:00) → Arasugesawa (crossing) → (1:30) → Sasadaira → (0:30) → Mt. Amakazari summit (1,963 m) → (2:30) → Amakazari-kogen Campsite
1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Minami-Otari Station (JR Oito Line, via Hokuriku Shinkansen Nagano)
The base for Mt. Amakazari is Minami-Otari Station (JR Oito Line). From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki / Hakutaka to Nagano in about 1 h 30 min, then JR Shinonoi + Oito Lines (transfer at Matsumoto) for about 3 hours. Or take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Itoigawa (about 2 h 20 min from Tokyo) and the JR Oito Line about 1 hour to Minami-Otari.
JR and airport access guide :
Tokyo Station → Minami-Otari Station : Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki + Oito Line (via Itoigawa) about 3 h 20 min, ~¥13,400
Tokyo Station → Minami-Otari Station : Hokuriku Shinkansen + JR Shinonoi + Oito Line (via Matsumoto) about 4 h 30 min, ~¥12,000
Osaka Station → Minami-Otari Station : Hokuriku Shinkansen + Oito Line about 5 h, ~¥17,000
Tokyo → Matsushiro Airport : no direct flight; via Nagoya/Osaka
Reference : JR East ｜ Otari Tourism Association access
Inquiries : JR Minami-Otari Station ☎0261-82-2025
2. [Round trip] Minami-Otari Station ⇔ Amakazari-kogen (Otari Village Bus, Amakazari-kogen line)
To Amakazari-kogen (for Amakazari-so and Amakazari-kogen Campsite), take the Otari Village Bus Amakazari-kogen line (Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen) for about 40 min, ¥840 one way, 6 runs per day. The line also serves Nakatsuchi Station (about 30 min). From the Amakazari-kogen bus stop, Amakazari-so is a 5-minute walk; Amakazari-kogen Campsite is about 1 hour on foot (3 km). By car: about 1 h 30 min from Azumino IC; parking at the campsite and Koya Onsen (~50 spaces each).
Operating period : Year round (climbing season Jul–Oct recommended)
Travel time : Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen about 40 min
Fare : ¥840 (one way)
Frequency : 6 runs per day
Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen (Otari Village Bus Amakazari-kogen line, hiker excerpt)
| Minami-Otari Station dep. | Nakatsuchi Station via | Amakazari-kogen arr. |
|---|---|---|
| around 7:50 | around 8:00 | around 8:30 |
| around 10:20 | around 10:30 | around 11:00 |
| around 13:20 | around 13:30 | around 14:00 |
| around 16:20 | around 16:30 | around 17:00 |
Amakazari-kogen → Minami-Otari Station (Otari Village Bus, return)
| Amakazari-kogen dep. | Nakatsuchi Station via | Minami-Otari Station arr. |
|---|---|---|
| around 8:40 | around 9:10 | around 9:20 |
| around 11:10 | around 11:40 | around 11:50 |
| around 14:10 | around 14:40 | around 14:50 |
| around 17:10 (last) | around 17:40 | around 17:50 |
Note : Times vary by year — confirm with the Otari Village Bus or Otari Tourism Association. From the Amakazari-kogen bus stop, the trailhead at Amakazari-kogen Campsite is ~1 h on foot (3 km); trailhead transfer for Amakazari-so guests may be available (confirm in advance). For a day hike, the early bus (7:50) and last bus (17:10) are realistic — about 9 h of total time required.
Reference : Otari Tourism Association access
Inquiries : Otari Village Hall ☎0261-82-2001 / Otari Tourism Association ☎0261-82-2233
3. Amakazari-kogen Campsite, Amakazari-so, suggested plans
About Mt. Amakazari
A twin-peak mountain (1,963 m) straddling Itoigawa in Niigata and Otari Village in Nagano, within Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park. Seen from the southeast, the twin peaks form the silhouette of a “Goddess’s profile“, giving the mountain its iconic shape. Although its height stays under 2,000 m, the mountain sits at the northern end of the Northern Alps and offers Sasadaira’s autumn grass (late September to early October), beech forests, the Arasugesawa gorge, and alpine flowers. The Yakushi-one course on the Itoigawa side has steep rocky sections for advanced hikers; the Amakazari-kogen course on the Otari side is the intermediate-friendly classic. Selected by Fukada among the 100 Famous Mountains.
Trail summary (2 main courses)
- Amakazari-kogen course (Koya Onsen side) (intermediate, ~7 h): standard / most popular, via Buna-daira, Arasugesawa, Sasadaira
- Yakushi-one course (Itoigawa side) (advanced, ~9 h): steep rocky ridges, for fit hikers
Lodging and hot springs
– Amakazari-so (Koya Onsen): 5 min walk from the Amakazari-kogen bus stop; lodging from ~¥10,000; day-use bath ¥600 (free-flowing source spring) — best climbing base. ☎0261-85-1607
– Amakazari-kogen Campsite: 1,200 m, tent ¥1,000/person, toilet and water; trailhead on site
– No huts on the summit or trails: day-hike basis; overnight at Amakazari-so or the campsite
Climbing season / autumn: June to October. Late September to early October: peak of Sasadaira’s grass colours (top-ranked nationwide), plus brilliant beech yellow. July brings alpine flowers (Takane-nadeshiko, Shimotsuke-sō, etc.). Residual snow lingers at Arasugesawa until early June.
Cautions
– Arasugesawa crossing: usually easy by stepping stones; cross carefully after heavy rain
– Steep climb to Sasadaira: just below the summit; watch footing
– Bear sightings: carry bells
– Itoigawa side (Yakushi-one) is for advanced hikers: chain sections on steep rocks
Emergency contacts and inquiries
- Otari Village Hall (Amakazari-kogen side): ☎0261-82-2001 / Otari Tourism Association: ☎0261-82-2233
- Itoigawa City Hall (Yakushi-one side): ☎025-552-1511
- Omachi Police Station (climbing plan, mountain rescue): ☎0261-22-0110
- Amakazari-so (lodging, bath): ☎0261-85-1607 / Otari Village Bus: ☎0261-82-2001
Suggested plans
- Day hike, Amakazari-kogen course (intermediate / fit hikers): Minami-Otari 7:50 → Amakazari-kogen 8:30 → Campsite 9:30 → summit 13:00 → descend → Campsite 16:00 → Amakazari-kogen 17:00 → bus 17:10 → Minami-Otari 17:50
- One night, Amakazari-so pre-night (recommended, most popular): Day 1 Minami-Otari → Amakazari-so overnight (onsen + dinner). Day 2 early 5:00 leave Amakazari-so → 6:00 Campsite → summit 9:30 → descend → bath at Amakazari-so → return. Booking Amakazari-so a month ahead is recommended in the autumn-colour season (late Sep – early Oct)
Reference : Amakazari-so access ｜ Amakazari-kogen Campsite
Photo by ys-energy
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