Mount Asayo

Mount Asayo (Asayomine) is a 2,799 m peak straddling Minami-Alps City and Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture, and one of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains.
It is the highest peak of the Hayakawa Ridge connecting Mount Kaikoma and the Hōō range, and its summit offers one of the finest panoramas in the South Alps, taking in Mount Kita, Mount Senjō, Mount Kaikoma, the Hōō range, Yatsugatake, and Mount Fuji. It is an advanced route, a there-and-back over a rocky ridge from Kitazawa Pass via Mount Kurisawa to Mount Asayo, including rock-scrambling between Mount Kurisawa and Mount Asayo.
To reach the trailhead at Kitazawa Pass, you access it from Chino Station by connecting a seasonal bus with the South Alps Forest Road bus.

The starting point is Kitazawa Pass (2,030 m), the terminus of the South Alps Forest Road bus. The standard route is a round trip of Kitazawa Pass → Chōei Hut → Mount Kurisawa → Mount Asayo (2,799 m), with a standard course time of about 3 hours 10 minutes up and about 3 hours 05 minutes down (a loop via Senzui Pass), an advanced route that includes the rocky ridge beyond Mount Kurisawa. Because the Geo Liner arrives at Kitazawa Pass before noon, it is recommended to stay overnight before or after at Kitazawa Pass (Komorebi Hut or Chōei Hut).
The best hiking season is summer to early autumn (July–September). The ridge from Mount Kurisawa to Mount Asayo offers unobstructed, sweeping views the whole way. Always check the bus operating period and the latest timetable in advance.

*Last checked: June 8, 2026

1. [Outbound] Chino Station → Kitazawa Pass (Geo Liner + South Alps Forest Road bus)

The hub is Chino Station on the JR Chūō Main Line, where the limited express “Azusa” stops. Since Kitazawa Pass is closed to private cars, you transfer to the South Alps Forest Road bus at Todai Park. As the direct bus runs only from Chino Station, you first head to Todai Park on the seasonal South Alps Geo Liner.

Bus timetable ①: Chino Station → Todai Park (South Alps Geo Liner, JR Bus Kanto)

Bus timetable ②: Todai Park → Kitazawa Pass (South Alps Forest Road bus)

By car: There is a paid parking lot at Todai Park. About 40 minutes from Ina IC or Ogurokawa Smart IC on the Chūō Expressway. Transfer to the Forest Road bus for Kitazawa Pass.
Weekdays / outside the Geo Liner operating period: Take the JR Bus Kanto “Takatō Line” from Ina-shi Station or Ina-kita Station to Takatō Station (about 25 minutes), then the Hase loop bus to Todai Park; however, the Hase loop bus runs on weekdays only, so on weekends and holidays outside the Geo Liner period a taxi from Ina-shi Station or Ina-kita Station is the reliable option (Ina Tsubame Taxi 0265-76-5111 / Shirakawa Taxi Takatō Office 0265-94-2046).

References: [Ina City Official – South Alps Forest Road Bus] / [Ina City Tourism Association – Geo Liner 2026]

2. [Return] Kitazawa Pass → Chino Station (South Alps Forest Road bus + Geo Liner)

On the way down, take the South Alps Forest Road bus from Kitazawa Pass to Todai Park, then return to Chino Station on the Geo Liner.

Bus timetable ③: Kitazawa Pass → Todai Park (South Alps Forest Road bus)

Bus timetable ④: Todai Park → Chino Station (South Alps Geo Liner)

References: [Ina City Official – South Alps Forest Road Bus] / [Ina City Tourism Association – Geo Liner 2026]

Trail Guide and Safety Notes

Route: From Kitazawa Pass (2,030 m), climb straight up to Mount Kurisawa via Chōei Hut, then follow the ridge for a round trip to Mount Asayo (2,799 m). The standard course time is about 3 hours 10 minutes up and about 3 hours 05 minutes down (a loop via Senzui Pass), and it is an advanced route that includes the rocky ridge beyond Mount Kurisawa. There is also a longer course traversing the Hayakawa Ridge from Hirokawara Pass.

Rocky ridge and weather notes: From Mount Kurisawa toward Mount Asayo it is a rocky ridge of piled-up boulders, where you proceed by following painted marks and cairns. The route is easy to lose when visibility is poor in fog, so take care. The elevation is high, so prepare for sudden weather changes, lightning, and hypothermia, and aim to start early and arrive early.

Views and mountain huts: From the summit there is a grand panorama of Mount Kita, Mount Senjō, Mount Kaikoma, the Hōō range, Yatsugatake, and Mount Fuji. Kitazawa Pass has Komorebi Hut and Chōei Hut (with a campsite), which serve as bases for staying overnight before or after the climb.

Gear and emergencies: Carry rainwear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS, plenty of trail food, and drinking water. In case of an accident or being stranded, call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/ambulance).
– Ina Police Station 0265-72-0110

Photo by Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain