Mt. Yakushi (薬師岳) is a 2,926m peak located in Toyama Prefecture, and one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.
Alongside Mt. Tateyama, it is a sacred peak of mountain worship that has long gathered faith as the Pure Land of Yakushi Nyorai. At the summit a shrine enshrining Yakushi Nyorai stands, and on the east face the cirques (karu) of Mt. Yakushi, designated as a National Special Natural Monument, spread out grandly.
The day-trip ~ 1-night round-trip from Oritate is the most popular route.
This page introduces access by train and bus to Oritate, the trailhead of Mt. Yakushi.
*Timetable last checked: May 11, 2026
Map
How to access the trailheads
1. [Going] Arimineguchi Station → Oritate
From in front of Arimineguchi Station on the Toyama Chiho Railway, board the Toyama Chiho Railway Bus “Summer Mountain Bus (Arimine Line)” and get off at the terminus, Oritate. Oritate is the shortest trailhead for Mt. Yakushi and the Kurobe headwaters region. There is also a direct bus from in front of Toyama Station, both of which are completely reservation-based (reservations can be made from 1 month before the boarding date, TEL 076-442-8122).
Operating period: typically mid-July – late September (daily-operation period and Sat/Sun/holiday-only period exist, varies by year)
Travel time: about 60 minutes from Arimineguchi Station / about 2 hours 20 minutes from in front of Toyama Station
Reservation: Toyama Chitetsu Ticket Center (TEL 076-442-8122, 9:00–18:00) or Hatsusha Oraicom
* For the latest timetable and fares for the 2026 season, please check the Toyama Chiho Railway official site “Summer Mountain Bus information (Arimine Line)” (timetable and fare table provided as images).
2. [Return] Oritate → Arimineguchi Station
From the Oritate bus stop, board the Toyama Chiho Railway Bus “Summer Mountain Bus (Arimine Line)” and get off at Arimineguchi Station or in front of Toyama Station. In addition to the direct bus, there are also services that transfer at Arimine Memorial Hall. If you want to enjoy a day-trip onsen after descending, get off at “Kameya Onsen” one stop before, and you can visit Shirakaba Heights near the bus stop.
Operating period: typically mid-July – late September (same as outbound)
Travel time: about 50 minutes from Oritate to Arimineguchi Station / about 2 hours to in front of Toyama Station
* For the latest timetable and fares for the 2026 season, please check the Toyama Chiho Railway official site “Summer Mountain Bus information (Arimine Line)”.
Photo source: Wikipedia
