Mt. Myoko (妙高山)

Mt. Myoko (妙高山, 2,454 m) is a stratovolcano in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, known as “Echigo Fuji” for its elegant cone — a 100 Famous Mountain of Japan in Joshinetsu-kogen National Park (Kyūya Fukada’s selection).

It is the central cone of a double-caldera volcano and the principal peak of the Kubiki Sanzan (Myoko, Hiuchi and Yakeyama). The traverse with the adjacent Mt. Hiuchi (2,462 m, also a 100 Famous Mountain) from the Sasagamine trailhead is popular as a 2-day plan. Access comes from three directions — Tsubame Onsen (Sekiyama Station → Keinan Bus), Sasagamine (Myoko-kogen Station → direct bus in summer), and the Akakura Sky Cable. Difficulty: intermediate to advanced ★★★★, ~8 hours.

*Timetable last checked: May 21, 2026

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Myoko-kogen / Sekiyama Stations (Hokuriku Shinkansen via Joetsu-myoko)
2. [Round trip] Sekiyama Station ⇔ Tsubame Onsen (Keinan Bus, year round)
3. [Round trip] Myoko-kogen Station ⇔ Sasagamine (Keinan Bus Sasagamine direct, summer-only)
4. Akakura Sky Cable, Hiuchi traverse, suggested plans

Standard times (Tsubame Onsen course, out-and-back, intermediate–advanced, ~8 hours)

Tsubame Onsen (1,150 m) → (1:30) → Asadaira → (2:00) → Tengudō (chain section) → (1:00) → Mt. Myoko summit (2,454 m) → (3:30) → Tsubame Onsen

Standard times (Sasagamine course, Mt. Myoko out-and-back, intermediate, ~10 hours + Kōyaike Hut stay recommended)

Sasagamine trailhead (1,300 m) → (2:30) → Fujimi-daira → (1:30) → Kōyaike Hut (1,990 m, recommended overnight) → (2:00) → Chausu-yama → (1:30) → Mt. Myoko summit → return (or traverse to Mt. Hiuchi)

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Myoko-kogen / Sekiyama Stations (Hokuriku Shinkansen via Joetsu-myoko)

Bases for Mt. Myoko are Myoko-kogen Station (for Sasagamine; Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line) and Sekiyama Station (for Tsubame Onsen; same line). From Tokyo Station, Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki / Hakutaka reaches Joetsu-myoko Station in about 2 hours; the Myoko Haneuma Line then reaches Sekiyama in about 25 min and Myoko-kogen in about 35 min. From Osaka, ~4 hours via Kanazawa.

JR and airport access guide :
Tokyo Station → Joetsu-myoko Station : Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki / Hakutaka about 2 h, ¥10,650 (reserved)
Osaka Station → Joetsu-myoko Station : Thunderbird + Hakutaka about 4 h, ~¥18,200
Joetsu-myoko Station → Sekiyama Station : Echigo Tokimeki Myoko Haneuma Line about 25 min, ¥420
Joetsu-myoko Station → Myoko-kogen Station : Echigo Tokimeki Myoko Haneuma Line about 35 min, ¥600

Reference : JR East ｜ Myoko Tourism Bureau
Inquiries : JR Joetsu-myoko Station ☎025-523-0181 / Echigo Tokimeki Railway ☎025-543-8988

2. [Round trip] Sekiyama Station ⇔ Tsubame Onsen (Keinan Bus, year round)

For the Tsubame Onsen course trailhead Tsubame Onsen (1,150 m), Keinan Bus (Sekiyama Station → Tsubame Onsen) takes about 32 min, ¥600 one way, 5–7 runs per day, year round (reduced and shortened in winter). From the Tsubame Onsen stop to the trailhead is 1 min on foot through the hot-spring village. Self-drive: ~30 min from Myoko-kogen IC; parking at Tsubame Onsen (~30 spaces).

Operating period : Year round (reduced and shortened Dec–Mar)
Travel time : Sekiyama Station → Tsubame Onsen about 32 min
Fare : ¥600 (one way)
Frequency : 5–7 runs per day

Sekiyama Station → Tsubame Onsen (Keinan Bus, hiker excerpt, year round)

Tsubame Onsen → Sekiyama Station (Keinan Bus, return, year round)

Note : Times vary by year — always confirm with Keinan Bus or Myoko City bus. After descending, soak at Tsubame Onsen “Kogane-no-yu” / “Kawara-no-yu” (free open-air bath) or “Tsubame Onsen Hotel” (¥700).

Reference : Keinan Bus official ｜ Myoko Tourism access
Inquiries : Keinan Bus ☎0255-72-3139 / Myoko City Tourism Section ☎0255-74-0021

3. [Round trip] Myoko-kogen Station ⇔ Sasagamine (Keinan Bus Sasagamine direct, summer-only)

For the Mt. Hiuchi-traverse base Sasagamine trailhead (1,300 m), Keinan Bus Sasagamine direct (Myoko-kogen Station → Imori-ike → Sasagamine-kogen) takes about 50 min, ¥1,000 one way. Operates typically 12 July (mountain opening) to 26 October (2025 actual; 2026 to be confirmed), 2–8 runs per day depending on date. Sasagamine is the base for Mt. Myoko + Mt. Hiuchi traverse; parking (~100 spaces, free).

Operating period : Typically 12 Jul to 26 Oct (mountain opening to autumn, confirm in advance)
Travel time : Myoko-kogen Station → Sasagamine-kogen about 50 min
Fare : ¥1,000 (one way)
Frequency : 2–8 runs per day (varies by date)

Myoko-kogen Station → Sasagamine-kogen (Keinan Bus Sasagamine direct, summer-only, hiker excerpt)

Sasagamine-kogen → Myoko-kogen Station (Keinan Bus Sasagamine direct, return, summer-only)

Note : Operating periods and frequencies vary significantly — always confirm with Keinan Bus or Myoko Tourism. Missing the last bus (16:20) means overnight at Sasagamine-kogen or taxi (~¥10,000). For the Mt. Hiuchi traverse, an overnight at Kōyaike Hut (1,990 m, reservation required) is standard.

Reference : Niigata Tourism Sasagamine direct bus ｜ Keinan Bus official
Inquiries : Keinan Bus ☎0255-72-3139 / Kōyaike Hut ☎090-7068-2061

4. Akakura Sky Cable, Hiuchi traverse, suggested plans

Akakura Sky Cable (Akakura Kanko Resort, south side): From Myoko-kogen Station, bus ~15 min, then the Sky Cable (round trip ¥2,200, summer-only mid-Jul to late Oct) reaches 1,300 m. Akakura trail to Mt. Myoko ~8 h round trip. Trail closed outside season. Official: akr-sky.com

About Mt. Myoko
A free-standing peak (2,454 m) in Niigata’s Joshinetsu-kogen National Park, called “Echigo Fuji” for its elegant cone. It is the principal peak of the Kubiki Sanzan (Myoko, Hiuchi, Yakeyama). Active about 300,000 years ago, it forms the central cone of a double caldera. Close to Joetsu-myoko Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, with rich hot-spring resorts nearby (Tsubame, Akakura, Ikenotaira). Selected by Fukada as one of his 100 Famous Mountains.

Trail summary (3 main courses)

• Tsubame Onsen course (intermediate–advanced, ~8 h): from Tsubame Onsen; Tengudō chain is the crux; accessible year round
• Sasagamine course (intermediate, ~10 h + Kōyaike overnight recommended): base for the Hiuchi traverse; summer-only bus
• Akakura Sky Cable course (intermediate, ~8 h): south side; summer-only

Huts and hot springs
– Kōyaike Hut (1,990 m, Mt. Hiuchi side): open typically Jun–Oct (May is dorm-only); reservation required; ☎090-7068-2061
– Tsubame Onsen “Kogane-no-yu” / “Kawara-no-yu”: free open-air baths (mixed, summer climbing season only)
– Akakura Onsen: large resort area, multiple day-use facilities
– Ikenotaira Onsen: near Myoko-kogen Station, family-friendly

Cautions
– Volcanic alert Level 1 (Normal): open, but active — watch for volcanic gas
– Tengudō chain section (Tsubame Onsen / Akakura): beware of falls; turn back if rain
– Sasagamine direct bus summer-only: outside the season, drive or taxi
– Bear sightings: carry bells and pepper spray

Emergency contacts and inquiries

• Myoko City Tourism Section: ☎0255-74-0021 / Myoko Tourism Bureau: ☎0255-86-3911
• Myoko Police (climbing plan, mountain rescue): ☎0255-72-0110
• Keinan Bus: ☎0255-72-3139 / Kōyaike Hut: ☎090-7068-2061
• Akakura Sky Cable: ☎0255-87-2503 / Tsubame Onsen Tourism Association: ☎0255-82-3168

Suggested plans

• Day hike, Tsubame Onsen course (intermediate–advanced, year-round): Sekiyama 7:50 → Tsubame Onsen 8:22 → summit 13:00 → Tsubame Onsen 16:30 → Sekiyama 17:02 → Kogane-no-yu bath
• One night, Myoko + Hiuchi traverse (recommended): Day 1 Myoko-kogen → Sasagamine → Kōyaike Hut overnight → afternoon Mt. Hiuchi out-and-back. Day 2 early Mt. Myoko out-and-back → descend → Myoko-kogen. Two peaks one trip

Reference : Myoko Tourism Bureau ｜ Mt. Myoko trail guide

Photo by Σ64 (Flickr)