Mt. Tekaridake (てかりだけ, 2,591m) straddles the border of Iida City (Nagano) and Aoi Ward of Shizuoka City (Shizuoka) in the southern Southern Alps, selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan as the southernmost high peak among the Hyakumeizan. The mountain’s name comes from “Hikari-iwa” (white limestone) just below the summit, which appears to glow in the evening sun.
The Iroudo course (on foot from Shibasawa Gate, 2 nights 3 days standard) leads to this remote peak. Expert ★★★★★・distance ~21 km・elevation gain 1,711 m・action time ~18 hours (2 nights 3 days at Tekaridake Hut). The summit overlooks Mt. Hijiri, Mt. Akaishi, Mt. Ikeguchi and the deep southern range.
Access to the trailhead
- [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Iida Station (JR + Chuo Expressway highway bus)
- [Outbound / Return] Iida Station ⇔ Shibasawa Gate / Iroudo (Mainichi Alpen-go / private car)
- Iroudo course, Tekaridake Hut, suggested plans
Course time (Iroudo course, 2 nights 3 days, Expert, ~18 hours)
Day 1 (~7 hr): Iroudo (880 m) → (1:00) → Mt. Iro junction → (5:00) → Mt. Iro (2,354 m) → (1:00) → Mikkichi-Gare (camp) or Seikousha Hut (Benigashima) overnight
Day 2 (~5 hr): Mt. Iro → (2:30) → Shizukodaira → (1:00) → Tekaridake Hut (2,500 m) overnight + summit round trip (0:30 + Hikari-iwa 0:20)
Day 3 (~6 hr): Tekaridake Hut → (1:00) → Mt. Iro → (5:00) → Iroudo → Shibasawa Gate
1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Iida Station (JR + Chuo Expressway highway bus)
Iida Station (JR Iida Line / Chuo Expressway Iida IC) is the Nagano-side gateway for Mt. Tekaridake. From Shinjuku Station, take JR Chuo Line Limited Express Azusa → Okaya → JR Iida Line Limited Express Inaji approx. 4 hr 30 min・¥8,500, or Shinjuku Busta → Iida Station front (Chuo Expressway highway bus) approx. 4 hr 15 min・¥4,900 — the bus is more convenient. From Tokyo Station, JR Tokaido Shinkansen → Nagoya → JR Chuo-West Line → Nakatsugawa → Chuo Expressway highway bus also takes about 5 hr. From Osaka, Kintetsu → Nagoya → Chuo Expressway highway bus approx. 6 hr.
JR / highway-bus reference :
Shinjuku Stn → Iida Stn : JR Limited Express Azusa + Iida Line ~4 hr 30 min・¥8,500
Shinjuku Busta → Iida Stn front : Chuo Expressway highway bus ~4 hr 15 min・¥4,900
Tokyo Stn → Iida Stn : via JR ~5 hr
Osaka Stn → Iida Stn : Kintetsu + highway bus ~6 hr
Reference : Chuo Expressway highway bus ｜ Toyamago Tourism Association Official
Contact : Iida Station front bus stop ☎0265-22-2155
2. [Outbound / Return] Iida Station ⇔ Shibasawa Gate / Iroudo (Mainichi Alpen-go / private car)
For the Iroudo trailhead there is no scheduled bus; direct overnight service to Shibasawa Gate by “Mainichi Alpen-go” climbing bus from Shinjuku Busta (summer-only) is the standard. Private car: Chuo Expressway Iida IC → R153 → Pref. Rd 251 → R474 → R152 → Akaishi Forest Road → municipal road 20 km to Shibasawa Gate (end of car road, free parking 50 spaces); from Shibasawa Gate, walk approx. 5 km / 1 hr 30 min to Iroudo (vehicles prohibited since 2018 collapse). The section past Kitamatado Gate is frequently closed; pre-confirm with Iida City Forestry Division ☎0265-22-4511.
Operating period : Mainichi Alpen-go: summer climbing season (typically mid-July – September); private car year-round (forest road closed in winter)
Travel time : Shinjuku Busta → Shibasawa Gate (Mainichi Alpen-go) ~8 hours (overnight)
Fare : Mainichi Alpen-go ~¥12,000 (one-way)
Frequency : Weekends and summer climbing days only
Shinjuku Busta → Shibasawa Gate (Mainichi Alpen-go, summer-only, hiker reference)
| Shinjuku Busta dep | Shibasawa Gate arr |
|---|---|
| ~22:00 (overnight, summer Fri/Sat/Sun) | ~5:30 (next morning) |
Shibasawa Gate → Shinjuku Busta (Mainichi Alpen-go, return, summer-only)
| Shibasawa Gate dep | Shinjuku Busta arr |
|---|---|
| ~14:00 (summer Sun / holidays) | ~22:00 |
Note : Operating days and timetables must be pre-reserved / verified at the “Mainichi Alpen-go” official (Mainichi Shimbun Tour) site. Including the 5 km walk from Shibasawa Gate to Iroudo, Day 1 exceeds 8 hours; pre-overnight at Seikousha Hut (Benigashima) is recommended. Post-descent lodging: Toyamago Onsen “Kagura-no-Yu” (bath ¥620) or Akaishi Onsen “Shirakabaso”.
Reference : Toyamago Tourism Association — Southern Alps trailheads ｜ Tozanguchi Navi — Iroudo parking
Contact : Iida City Forestry (forest road info) ☎0265-22-4511 / Kawanehon Town Tourism (Tekaridake Hut) ☎0547-58-7077 / Seikousha Hut (satellite phone) ☎090-7027-2645
3. Iroudo course, Tekaridake Hut, suggested plans
About Mt. Tekaridake
At 2,591 m on the Iida City (Nagano) / Shizuoka City Aoi Ward (Shizuoka) border, a noted peak of the southern Southern Alps. Selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan as the southernmost high peak of the Hyakumeizan. The mountain’s name comes from “Hikari-iwa” (white limestone) just below the summit, which appears to glow in the evening sun. From the summit, panoramic views of Mt. Hijiri, Mt. Akaishi, Mt. Ikeguchi, and the deep southern range, along with the southern limit of the alpine pine (hai-matsu) zone, define this remote peak.
Trail overview (2 main courses)
- Iroudo course (Nagano side, standard, Expert, ~18 hr, 2 nights 3 days): Shibasawa Gate → walk → Iroudo → Mt. Iro → Tekaridake Hut → summit / Hikari-iwa; shortest access
- Mt. Hijiri / Mt. Kamikochi traverse (Expert, 3-4 nights): Mt. Hijiri / Mt. Kamikochi / Mt. Chausu southbound traverse; serious traverse
- Sumatakyo course (Shizuoka side, Expert, 4-5 nights): Sumatakyo → Mt. Oneza-yama → Mt. Tekaridake; super-long
Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– Tekaridake Hut (2,500 m, operated by Kawanehon Town, Shizuoka, ☎0547-58-7077): Open July 1 – end of September 2026, reservation only, capacity 20, 1 night with 2 meals ~¥10,000, reserve via official reservation site
– Seikousha Hut (Benigashima) (☎090-7027-2645 satellite phone): Open April 26 – November 3, capacity 18, reservation required, base for both Tekaridake and Hijiri climbs
– Hijiri-daira Hut (☎080-1560-6309 Ikawa Tourism): Open July 12 – September 23, used for Mt. Hijiri traverse
– Toyamago Onsen “Kagura-no-Yu” (bath ¥620)・Akaishi Onsen “Shirakabaso” (post-descent)
Climbing season / flora: Early July to September. July: alpine pine, lingonberry, hakusan-ichige (southern-limit colonies). August-September: alpine plants. Late September onward: autumn colors. Snow remains on the ridge until early July. Forest road closes from October.
Cautions
– 5 km walk from Shibasawa Gate: Since 2018 collapse, walk required to Iroudo (~1 hr 30 min)
– Kitamatado Gate frequently closed: Pre-confirm with Iida City Forestry; worst case, walk the entire way from Shibasawa Gate
– Tekaridake Hut reservation only: No walk-ins; capacity 20 only
– Water at huts, Hijiri-daira Hut, Mt. Iro spring: Carrying water essential, at least 2 L
– Remote southern Southern Alps: Yamabiru (mountain leeches), hornets, bear sightings reported; appropriate gear
Emergency contacts / inquiries
- Iida City Forestry (forest road info): ☎0265-22-4511 / Iida Police Station (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0265-23-0110
- Kawanehon Town Tourism (Tekaridake Hut): ☎0547-58-7077 / Ikawa Tourism Association (Hijiri-daira Hut): ☎080-1560-6309
- Seikousha Hut (satellite phone): ☎090-7027-2645
- Toyamago Tourism Association: ☎0260-34-1071
Suggested plans (Iroudo course, 2 nights 3 days at Tekaridake Hut, recommended, standard)
- 2 nights 3 days at Tekaridake Hut (recommended, standard): Day 0 Shinjuku 22:00 → Mainichi Alpen-go → Shibasawa Gate 5:30. Day 1 Shibasawa Gate 6:00 → Iroudo 7:30 → Mt. Iro 14:00 → Mikkichi-Gare or Seikousha Hut overnight. Day 2 Mt. Iro → Tekaridake Hut 12:00 → summit 13:00 → Hikari-iwa 14:00 → hut overnight. Day 3 Tekaridake Hut 6:00 → Mt. Iro → Iroudo → Shibasawa Gate 14:00 → return
- 3 nights 4 days via Mt. Hijiri traverse (for strong hikers): Day 1 Shibasawa Gate → Benigashima Seikousha Hut. Day 2 Mt. Hijiri → Hijiri-daira Hut. Day 3 Mt. Kamikochi → Mt. Chausu → Tekaridake Hut. Day 4 descend via Iroudo
Reference : Kawanehon Town — Prefectural Tekaridake Hut ｜ Toyamago Tourism Association — Southern Alps trailheads
Photo by Alpsdake
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