Mt. Amakazari
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Mt. Amakazari (雨飾山, 1,963 m) is a twin-peaked mountain straddling Itoigawa City in Niigata Prefecture and Otari Village in Nagano Prefecture, inside Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan (selected by Kyuya Fukada).
Its draws are the twin-peak silhouette known as the “Goddess in profile“, the autumn grasses of Sasadaira (late September to early October) that make it a celebrated leaf-viewing mountain, and the beech woods and gorge scenery of Arasugesawa. The standard Amakazari-kogen route (Otari side, starting at the Amakazari-kogen campground) is graded intermediate ★★★ and takes about 7 hours return, which makes the mountain popular with everyone from confident beginners upwards. The Yakushi-one route on the Itoigawa side is for experienced hikers only.
Hiking Course Details — Mt. Amakazari
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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Amakazari
Mt. Amakazari — Reference Hiking Times
| Segment | Distance | Ascent/Descent | Out | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amakazari Plateau → Amakazari Lodge | 0.3 km | +18 m / −0 m | 0:05 | 0:05 |
| Amakazari Lodge → Amakazari Plateau Campsite | 2.8 km | +178 m / −4 m | 1:00 | 0:45 |
| Amakazari Plateau Campsite → Mount Amakazari | 4.0 km | +913 m / −117 m | 3:00 | 3:05 |
| Round trip | 14.2 km | +1230 m / −1230 m | 8:20 | |
1. [Outbound] Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen (Otari village bus, Amakazari-kogen line)
Amakazari-kogen (for Amakazari-so and the Amakazari-kogen campground) is reached on the Otari village bus, Amakazari-kogen line (Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen): about 40 minutes, ¥840 one way, 6 services a day. The same line also calls at Nakatsuchi Station, about 30 minutes out. The Amakazari-kogen stop is the nearest one to both Amakazari-so (5 minutes on foot) and the Amakazari-kogen campground (about 1 hour on foot, 3 km). By car it is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway, with parking at the campground and at Koya Onsen (roughly 50 spaces each).
Operating period : All year (July to October is the recommended climbing season)
Journey time : Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen, about 40 minutes
Fare : ¥840 (one way)
Frequency : 6 services a day
Minami-Otari Station → Amakazari-kogen (Otari village bus, Amakazari-kogen line; services useful for hikers)
| Minami-Otari Station dep. | via Nakatsuchi Station | Amakazari-kogen arr. |
|---|---|---|
| 7:50 (approx.) | 8:00 (approx.) | 8:30 (approx.) |
| 10:20 (approx.) | 10:30 (approx.) | 11:00 (approx.) |
| 13:20 (approx.) | 13:30 (approx.) | 14:00 (approx.) |
| 16:20 (approx.) | 16:30 (approx.) | 17:00 (approx.) |
2. [Return] Amakazari-kogen → Minami-Otari Station (Otari village bus, Amakazari-kogen line)
After the descent, the same bus and route take you from Amakazari-kogen back to Minami-Otari Station in about 1 hour 5 minutes (details above). Miss the last service and you may struggle to find a bed, so check the departure times and plan the descent to fit them.
Amakazari-kogen → Minami-Otari Station (Otari village bus, return)
| Amakazari-kogen dep. | via Nakatsuchi Station | Minami-Otari Station arr. |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 (approx.) | 9:10 (approx.) | 9:20 (approx.) |
| 11:10 (approx.) | 11:40 (approx.) | 11:50 (approx.) |
| 14:10 (approx.) | 14:40 (approx.) | 14:50 (approx.) |
| 17:10 (approx., last bus) | 17:40 (approx.) | 17:50 (approx.) |
Note : Departure times change from year to year, so always confirm with the Otari village bus operator or the Otari Tourism Association. Because the trailhead at the Amakazari-kogen campground is about 1 hour on foot (3 km) from the Amakazari-kogen bus stop, guests of Amakazari-so can sometimes get a lift to the trailhead — ask when booking. A day hike is feasible on the first bus (7:50) and the last one (17:10), but you need at least 9 hours in hand.
Reference : Otari Tourism Association access guide
Inquiries : Otari Village Office ☎0261-82-2001 / Otari Tourism Association ☎0261-82-2233
3. Amakazari-kogen campground, Amakazari-so and suggested plans
About Mt. Amakazari
A twin-peaked mountain (1,963 m) straddling Itoigawa City in Niigata and Otari Village in Nagano, inside Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park. Seen from the south-east, the two summits trace the silhouette of a “Goddess in profile“, the distinctive shape the mountain is known for. It stops just short of 2,000 m, but it stands at the northern end of the Japan Alps and offers the autumn grasses of Sasadaira (late September to early October), beech woods, the Arasugesawa gorge and alpine flowers. The Itoigawa side (Yakushi-one) is a steep rocky route for experienced hikers, while the Otari side (Amakazari-kogen) is the popular intermediate route. Selected by Kyuya Fukada for the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan.
The two main routes
- Amakazari-kogen route (Koya Onsen side) (intermediate, about 7 hours): the standard and by far the most popular route, by way of Buna-daira, Arasugesawa and Sasadaira
- Yakushi-one route (Itoigawa side) (advanced, about 9 hours): steep rocky ridges, for strong hikers
Lodging and hot springs
– Amakazari-so (Koya Onsen): 5 minutes’ walk from the Amakazari-kogen bus stop; lodging from ¥10,000, day bathing ¥600 (free-flowing spring water); the ideal base for the climb. ☎0261-85-1607
– Amakazari-kogen campground: at 1,200 m, ¥1,000 per person for a tent pitch, with toilets and water, right at the trailhead
– There are no huts on the summit or along the trail: plan on a day hike, and if you stay overnight use Amakazari-so or the campground at the foot of the mountain
Season and autumn colour: June to October. Late September to early October is the peak of the Sasadaira grasses (ranked among the best autumn-colour spots in Japan), and the beech woods turn a fine yellow. July brings alpine flowers such as Takane-nadeshiko and Shimotsuke-so. Snow lingers at Arasugesawa until early June.
Points to note
– The Arasugesawa crossing: normally an easy step across the stones, but treat it with care when the water is high after heavy rain
– The steep pull up to Sasadaira: just below the summit; watch your footing
– Bears are sighted here: carry a bell
– The Itoigawa side (Yakushi-one) is for experienced hikers: steep rock with chain sections
Emergency and general contacts
- Otari Village Office (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 plans, mountain rescue): ☎0261-22-0110
- Amakazari-so (lodging and bathing): ☎0261-85-1607 / Otari village bus: ☎0261-82-2001
Suggested plans
- Day hike on the Amakazari-kogen route (intermediate, for strong walkers): Minami-Otari Station 7:50 → Amakazari-kogen 8:30 → campground 9:30 → summit 13:00 → descend → campground 16:00 → Amakazari-kogen 17:00 → bus 17:10 → Minami-Otari Station 17:50
- Two days with a night at Amakazari-so (recommended and the most popular option): Day 1, travel from Minami-Otari and stay at Amakazari-so (hot spring and dinner). Day 2, leave Amakazari-so at 5:00 → campground 6:00 → summit 9:30 → descend → bathe at Amakazari-so → head home. In the autumn-colour season (late September to early October), book Amakazari-so a month ahead
Reference : Amakazari-so access ｜ Amakazari-kogen campground
Photo by ys-energy
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