Mt. Komori
Mt. Komori (蝙蝠岳, 2,865 m) in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, is a peak of the Akaishi Mountains (Southern Alps) and one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
It rises at the end of the long Komori ridge branching east from Mt. Shiomi, a markedly independent peak whose summit is clad in alpine dwarf pine and gravel above the tree line, with a grand view of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Shiomi, the Arakawa Three Mountains and the Shirane-Nanrei. Its name comes from a profile said to resemble a bat (kōmori) with spread wings. Set well off the main ridge, it draws few hikers and offers one of the quietest summits in the Southern Alps. For the trailhead you enter toward Niken-goya and Sawarajima by public transport plus the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus.
⚠ Access for the 2026 season — always confirm officially
Mt. Komori and the Niken-goya area are in the hard-to-reach southern Southern Alps, and entry is basically by the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus (Hatanagi summer car park ⇔ Sawarajima Lodge). In 2026 it is scheduled to run July 11 – October 12, and lodging at an affiliated mountain hut (Sawarajima Lodge, Niken-goya Lodge, etc.) is required (no tent camping; the ¥3,000 cooperation fee is offset against the lodging charge; reservations required, tel 0547-46-1551). The 2026 schedule for the “Shizutetsu Just Line Minami-Alps Climbing Line” (Shizuoka Station ⇔ Hatanagi Daiichi Dam) is to be announced from early June. Always confirm the latest with Tokushu Tokai Forest and Shizutetsu.
Mt. Komori is typically climbed from the Niken-goya Lodge (about 1,500 m): from the Chubu Electric management road you join the Komori ridge and go via Mt. Tokuemon to the summit. It is a long, almost continuously uphill ridge with a large elevation gain, taking 6–7 hours from Niken-goya to the summit — a route for the fit. The other way is an out-and-back along the Komori ridge from Mt. Shiomi via the Kitamatadake junction, tagged on a traverse from the Toridaira trailhead (seasonal bus from Inaoshima Station) over Sanpuku-toge and Mt. Shiomi.
Either way takes several days; the nearest staffed hut is the Niken-goya Lodge (Tokushu Tokai Forest, shuttle for guests). From the Mt. Shiomi side, use the Sanpuku-toge hut and the Shiomi hut. Always confirm operating periods and booking with each official site. The gravel ridge above the tree line is exposed to the weather — a mountain for experienced hikers with full gear and fitness.
Access to the trailhead (Niken-goya / Sawarajima)
- [Outbound] Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi Daiichi Dam → Sawarajima / Niken-goya
- [Return] Sawarajima / Niken-goya → Hatanagi Daiichi Dam → Shizuoka Station
1. [Outbound] Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi Daiichi Dam → Sawarajima / Niken-goya
From JR Shizuoka Station, take the “Shizutetsu Just Line Minami-Alps Climbing Line” to the Hatanagi Daiichi Dam (summer car park), then change to the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle bus to the Sawarajima Lodge and Niken-goya Lodge. The shuttle is for guests of affiliated huts only and requires a reservation (tel 0547-46-1551). From the Tokyo area, the overnight “Mainichi Alpen-go” bus (Takebashi/Hachioji → Hatanagi) is also available. The Shizutetsu times below are a 2025 reference; always confirm the 2026 operating days and times after the official announcement.
Bus timetable ①: Shizuoka Station → Hatanagi Daiichi Dam (Shizutetsu Just Line, outbound)
| Shizuoka Stn dep. | Hatanagi Daiichi Dam arr. |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | 13:20 |
Reference: [Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle timetable]
2. [Return] Sawarajima / Niken-goya → Hatanagi Daiichi Dam → Shizuoka Station
After descending, take the Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle from the Sawarajima Lodge or Niken-goya Lodge back to the Hatanagi Daiichi Dam, then the Shizutetsu Just Line to Shizuoka Station. As this is the descent from a long traverse, keep ample margin for the last shuttle and Shizutetsu bus. Toward Tokyo, you can also return from Hatanagi on the overnight “Mainichi Alpen-go”.
Bus timetable ②: Hatanagi Daiichi Dam → Shizuoka Station (Shizutetsu Just Line, return)
| Hatanagi Daiichi Dam dep. | Shizuoka Stn arr. |
|---|---|
| 14:30 | 17:50 |
Reference: [Tokushu Tokai Forest shuttle timetable]
Route and safety notes
Route 1 (Komori ridge): Niken-goya Lodge → Chubu Electric management road → Komori ridge trailhead → Mt. Tokuemon → Mt. Komori. A long ridge climbing about 1,400 m, about 6–7 hours from Niken-goya to the summit. There is no staffed hut along the way, so it is an out-and-back for the fit based on a night at the Niken-goya Lodge.
Route 2 (via Mt. Shiomi): an out-and-back along the Komori ridge from the Toridaira trailhead (seasonal bus from Inaoshima Station) via Sanpuku-toge and Mt. Shiomi to the Kitamatadake junction. About 2–3 hours one way from Mt. Shiomi to Mt. Komori. Walked over several days from the Sanpuku-toge hut and the Shiomi hut.
The summit and views: the summit is a gentle plateau of dwarf pine and gravel above the tree line, with a grand view of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Shiomi and the Arakawa Three Mountains. It is also a ptarmigan habitat. The views are fine, but the unsheltered gravel ridge is dangerous in strong wind and lightning.
Lodging: on the Komori ridge side, the Niken-goya Lodge (Tokushu Tokai Forest, shuttle for guests, reservations only). On the Mt. Shiomi side, the Sanpuku-toge hut and the Shiomi hut. Always confirm the 2026 operating period, booking method and shuttle service with each official site.
Weather and gear: on a main ridge around 2,800 m, be ready for sudden weather, strong wind, lightning and cold. Carry a map and compass (GPS), rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp and plenty of trail food. The season is mid-July to September while the huts operate.
In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue). Mobile coverage is poor over many sections, so always file a climbing plan.
Photo by Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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