Mt. Washiba
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Mt. Washiba (Washibadake, 鷲羽岳, 2,924 m) straddles the Toyama–Nagano prefectural border. One of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, it anchors the “Ura-Gin’za traverse” in the Northern Alps. From the summit, a 360° panorama opens to Mt. Yari, Mt. Hotaka, Mt. Suishō, and Mt. Kurobegorō. The view of Washiba Pond just below the summit, with Mt. Yari beyond, is one of the iconic scenes of the Northern Alps.
The shortest approach is JR Toyama → Toyama Chihō Railway Arimineguchi Station → Natsuyama Bus (Arimine Line) to Oritate. From Oritate, the summit is about 11 hours via Tarōdaira and Kumonodaira (standard 2-night plan). Alternative entry via Shin-Hotaka Onsen and Sugoroku Goya is also possible.
The Natsuyama Bus to Oritate typically runs from mid-July to late September; reservation is mandatory and opens one month in advance.
● Reservations: Toyama Chitetsu Ticket Center TEL 076-442-8122 (9:00–18:00) or Hassha Ōraī Net
● Latest timetable / fares: Toyama Chihō Railway — Natsuyama Bus (Arimine Line)
Outside the operating period (October–June), there is no public-transport access to Oritate.
Bus Timetable: Toyama Sta. / Arimineguchi → Oritate (Toyama Chitetsu Natsuyama Bus, Arimine Line, reservation only)
| Dep. Toyama Sta. | Dep. Arimineguchi | Arr. Oritate |
|---|---|---|
| 6:10 | 7:00 | 7:50 |
| ― | 10:00 | 10:55 |
Bus Timetable: Oritate → Arimineguchi / Toyama Sta. (Toyama Chitetsu Natsuyama Bus, Arimine Line, reservation only)
| Dep. Oritate | Arr. Arimineguchi | Arr. Toyama Sta. |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 | 9:30 | ― |
| 12:10 | 13:00 | 14:10 |
Washibadake can be reached from Oritate (Toyama side) or Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Gifu side). This article covers the shortest public-transport approach via Oritate. From Shin-Hotaka, it is about 7 hours via Sugoroku Goya.
- [Outbound] Toyama Station → Arimineguchi Station → Oritate (Natsuyama Bus)
- [Return] Oritate → Arimineguchi Station → Toyama Station
- Recommended plans and trail-area info
1. [Outbound] Toyama Station → Arimineguchi Station → Oritate (Natsuyama Bus)
From JR Toyama Station, transfer to the Toyama Chihō Railway and ride to Arimineguchi Station. From there, take the Natsuyama Bus (Arimine Line) to its terminus at Oritate. A through bus runs from Toyama Station to Oritate as well. From Oritate, Tarōdaira is about 5 h; the summit is reached in 6 more hours via Kumonodaira and Mitsumata-Renge-dake (about 11 h total).
Time: Arimineguchi → Oritate about 60 min / Toyama Station → Oritate about 2 h 20 min
Fare: Arimineguchi → Oritate about ¥1,800 / Toyama Station → Oritate about ¥3,300 (round-trip ticket available)
● Operating period: typically mid-July to late September.
● First departure: Toyama Station about 6:30 / Arimineguchi about 7:30 (varies by year).
● Mandatory reservation: booking opens one month before; reservations take priority even when seats appear available on the day.
● Oritate parking lot is free, about 100 spaces.
Reference: Toyama Chihō Railway — Natsuyama Bus (Arimine Line)
2. [Return] Oritate → Arimineguchi Station → Toyama Station
From Oritate, take the Natsuyama Bus to Arimineguchi Station or Toyama Station. For an after-hike onsen, get off one stop before Arimineguchi at “Kamegai Onsen” — Shirakaba Haitsu sits near the bus stop.
Time: Oritate → Arimineguchi about 50 min / Oritate → Toyama Station about 2 h
Fare: Oritate → Arimineguchi about ¥1,800 / Oritate → Toyama Station about ¥3,300
From Toyama, the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Tokyo in 2 h 10 min – 3 h. If descending toward Shin-Hotaka Onsen, return via Takayama Station on the JR Takayama Line and continue from Nagoya.
Reference: Toyama Chihō Railway — Natsuyama Bus (Arimine Line)
3. Recommended plans and trail-area info
Standard 2-night plan: Day 1 — Toyama Station → Oritate → Tarōdaira Goya (5 h). Day 2 — Tarōdaira → Yakushizawa → Kumonodaira → Mitsumata Sansō (8 h). Day 3 — Mitsumata Sansō → Washibadake → Mitsumata Sansō → Tarōdaira → Oritate → Toyama Station.
Suishō linkage (3 nights): Oritate → Tarōdaira → Kumonodaira → Washibadake → Mt. Suishō and back → Mitsumata Sansō → Tarōdaira → Oritate.
Shin-Hotaka start plan (2 nights): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Sugoroku Goya (6 h) → Mitsumata Sansō → Washibadake → Mitsumata → Sugoroku → Shin-Hotaka (7 h).
● Huts: Mitsumata Sansō (on the divide between Washibadake and Mitsumata-Rengedake, TEL 050-8882-5833); Tarōdaira Goya (TEL 076-482-1418); Sugoroku Goya (TEL 090-3480-0434). All summer-only, early July to early October.
● Water: Oritate trailhead, Yakushizawa Goya, Mitsumata Sansō, and Sugoroku Goya all have water. No water on the Washiba–Suishō ridgeline.
● Toilets: at Oritate bus stop and all huts (¥100–300 donation).
● Onsen after hike: Kamegai Onsen “Shirakaba Haitsu” (¥500) / Shin-Hotaka Onsen “Nakasaki Sansō” (¥800).
● Emergency contacts: Toyama Pref. Police Mountain Patrol 076-441-2211 / Toyama Pref. Mountain Accident Council 076-441-2211.
Photo source: Wikipedia
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