Mt. Chausu
Mount Chausu (Chausudake, 2,604 m) stands in the southern Akaishi Mountains (Southern Japanese Alps), on the border between Iida City (Nagano) and Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. One of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains, it lies on the main ridge with Mount Kamikochi to the north and Mount Tekari to the south. Based at the Chausu hut just below the summit, you can enjoy gentle ridges, flower fields and grand views of Mount Fuji and Mount Hijiri — a good introduction to the southern Southern Alps.
⚠ A forest-road walk to the trailhead / the shuttle bus beyond Numadaira is suspended (2026 season)
- The trailhead for Mount Chausu is the Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge (181 m long), about 30–40 minutes on foot along the forest road from the Numadaira gate. The Mainichi Alpen-go runs to the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot, from where you head to Numadaira and the bridge. The Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus is suspended beyond the Numadaira gate in some years due to road conditions, so always check whether it is running.
- Along the trail are the Usokko-sawa hut (unstaffed emergency shelter), Yokokubo-sawa hut (reservation required) and Chausu hut, making it easy to escape in bad weather or if you feel unwell. A day trip is hard even for strong hikers; the route assumes one night at the Chausu hut or similar.
- The season is early July to early October. Otherwise there is snow and ice, and the ridge demands care against strong wind and sudden weather changes.
*Timetable last checked: unverified
How to access the trailheads
- [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Hatanagi (Chausu trailhead)
- [Return] Hatanagi → Shinjuku Station
1. [Outbound] Takebashi Station (Tokyo) → Hatanagi (Chausu trailhead)
Trailhead = the Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge (Chausu trailhead, approx. 1,000 m), about 30–40 minutes on the forest road from the Numadaira gate.
From Takebashi Station or Hachioji Station in Tokyo, take the Mainichi Alpen-go bound for the Hatanagi Dam / Ikawa area (overnight, reservation-only) and get off at the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot. From there, it is about 30–40 minutes on foot via the Numadaira gate to the Chausu trailhead (Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge).
Fare: from ¥15,500 / Ride time: approx. 7 hours (overnight)
Bus TimetableBus timetable from Takebashi / Hachioji to Hatanagi
| Dep. Takebashi Stn. | Dep. Hachioji Stn. | Arr. Hatanagi temp. parking |
|---|---|---|
| 23:00 | 24:15 | 5:30 |
Reference: [Maitabi (Mainichi Alpen-go)]
2. [Return] Hatanagi → Shinjuku Station
After the descent, take the Mainichi Alpen-go “Hatanagi Dam → Shinjuku” (overnight, reservation-only) from the Hatanagi summer temporary parking lot to the terminus at Shinjuku Station. The descent from Mount Chausu is long, so allow margin for the bus time.
Fare: from ¥15,500 / Ride time: approx. 6–7 hours
Bus TimetableBus timetable from Hatanagi to Shinjuku
| Dep. Hatanagi temp. parking | Arr. Shinjuku Stn. |
|---|---|
| 14:15 | 21:30 |
Operating season: typically mid-July to mid-October (varies by year)
Reference: Maitabi (Mainichi Alpen-go)
3. Climbing route, the crux and estimated trail times of Mount Chausu
The starting point for Mount Chausu is the Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge (Chausu trailhead). Walk the forest road from the Numadaira gate, cross the suspension bridge and enter the steep forest climb. Via Yare-yare Pass, the Usokko-sawa hut and the Yokokubo-sawa hut you reach the Chausu hut, and one more short climb on the ridge brings you to the summit.
● Standard route (Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge → Chausu hut → Mount Chausu)
Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge → (Yare-yare Pass) → Usokko-sawa hut → (Naka-no-dan) → Yokokubo-sawa hut → (Kaba-dan) → Chausu hut → Mount Chausu. The crux is the long, steep forest climb from the Yokokubo-sawa hut to the Chausu hut, with a big elevation gain that demands stamina. From the Chausu hut, the ridge toward the summit, Mount Kamikochi and Mount Tekari is a gentle, scenic walk.
Standard trail times for the main sections (summer / snow-free guide)
- Numadaira gate → Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge (Chausu trailhead): approx. 30–40 min (forest road)
- Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge → Yare-yare Pass → Usokko-sawa hut → Yokokubo-sawa hut: approx. 3 hours
- Yokokubo-sawa hut → Chausu hut: approx. 2 hours
- Chausu hut → Mount Chausu: approx. 40 min
The view
From the summit of Mount Chausu and the surrounding ridge spread grand views of Mount Fuji, Mount Hijiri, Mount Kamikochi and Mount Tekari. The gentle, meadow-like ridge and the alpine flower fields are beautiful, and it is loved as one of the more approachable peaks of the southern Southern Alps.
Recommended plan (1 night / 2 days)
- Day 1: Hatanagi (arrive early on the night bus) → Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge → Yokokubo-sawa hut or Chausu hut (overnight)
- Day 2: Chausu hut → out-and-back to Mount Chausu → (extend to Mount Kamikochi if you wish) → descend to the Hatanagi Great Suspension Bridge
Depending on your fitness, a 2-night / 3-day traverse combining Mount Kamikochi and Mount Tekari is also possible. A day trip is not realistic; one night on the mountain is the norm.
4. Huts, emergency shelter and contacts
Chausu hut (staffed; the base for climbing Mount Chausu)
- Just southeast below the summit of Mount Chausu. A hut managed by Tokushu Tokai Forest, with an adjoining tent site. Reservation required.
- Confirm the 2026 opening period and reservation method with Tokushu Tokai Forest hut info.
Yokokubo-sawa hut and Usokko-sawa hut
- The Yokokubo-sawa hut is a staffed hut midway on the trail (reservation required). The Usokko-sawa hut is an unstaffed emergency shelter, useful for escaping bad weather.
Emergency contacts
- Shizuoka Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Shizuoka-Minami Police Station: 054-288-0110
- Nagano Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Iida Police Station: 0265-22-0110
- Shizuoka City, Aoi Ward Office, Ikawa Branch: 054-260-2211
Photo by Alpsdake
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