Mt. Gangaharasuriyama (雁ヶ腹摺山)

Mt. Gangaharasuriyama (がんがはらすりやま, 1,874m) in Otsuki City, Yamanashi, is the 1st-rank peak of the Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Ubakoyama) and the highest of the twelve. Famous as the filming location for the Mt. Fuji image on the back of the old 500-yen banknote (photographed by Hisasaku Natori on November 3, 1942), it is the ultimate Mt. Fuji viewing spot.

From Otoge Pass (1,560 m), the summit is reached in ~1 hr 20 min・Beginner-Intermediate ★★★, distance ~4 km・elevation gain 300 m, day-hike. The summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Southern Alps, and the Daibosatsu Range. A traverse with Mt. Ubakoyama (1,503 m, 40 min away) is recommended.

📷 Old 500-yen banknote Mt. Fuji viewpoint・Otoge parking 10 spaces: The view of Mt. Fuji from the summit is the legendary angle that was adopted for the back of the old 500-yen banknote (Iwakura Tomomi → Mt. Fuji) in 1942. Access is from Otoge (1,560 m) parking (10 spaces, toilet), a 1 hr 20 min walk to the summit. The R510 section between Kuwanishi parking and Otoge is closed for winter from December to late April; climbing season is May – November.

🚌 Scarce public transport — taxi or private car only: No scheduled bus to Otoge; about 1 hr 20 min by taxi from JR Otsuki Station. Private car: Chuo Expressway Otsuki IC → R20 → Pref. Rd 510 approx. 1 hr 15 min. The traverse with Mt. Ubakoyama (1,503 m) (Gangaharasuriyama → Ubakoyama → Kanayama Onsen) takes 5-6 hr; from the Kanayama Onsen descent point, taxi pickup is required.

*Timetable last checked: 2026年05月22日

Access to the trailhead

[Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line Limited Express Kaiji)
[Outbound / Return] Otsuki Station ⇔ Otoge (taxi / private car, no scheduled bus)
Otoge course, Ubakoyama traverse, suggested plans

Course time (Otoge course, day hike, Beginner-Intermediate, ~3 hr round trip)

Otoge (1,560 m) → (1:20) → Mt. Gangaharasuriyama summit (1,874 m) → descent (1:00) → Otoge

(Traverse) Ubakoyama course (Intermediate, ~5 hr): Otoge → Mt. Gangaharasuriyama → (1:30) → Mt. Ubakoyama (1,503 m) → (1:30) → Kanayama Onsen

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line Limited Express Kaiji)

Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Main Line / Fujikyu Railway) is the gateway for Mt. Gangaharasuriyama. From Shinjuku, JR Chuo Line Limited Express Kaiji ~1 hr 5 min・¥3,500 (reserved), or JR Chuo Line local ~1 hr 30 min・¥1,520. From Tokyo Station via Chuo Line local ~1 hr 50 min. From Osaka via Shinkansen ~4 hr・¥14,000. From overseas, Haneda Airport → Shinjuku is convenient. From Otsuki, taxi or private car to Otoge is mandatory (no scheduled bus).

JR / Shinkansen reference :
Shinjuku Stn → Otsuki Stn : JR Chuo Line Limited Express Kaiji ~1 hr 5 min・¥3,500 (reserved)
Shinjuku Stn → Otsuki Stn : JR Chuo Line local ~1 hr 30 min・¥1,520
Tokyo Stn → Otsuki Stn : JR Chuo Line ~1 hr 50 min
Osaka Stn → Otsuki Stn : JR Shinkansen route ~4 hr・¥14,000

Reference : JR East ｜ Otsuki Tourism — Mt. Gangaharasuriyama
Contact : JR Otsuki Station ☎0554-22-0029

2. [Outbound / Return] Otsuki Station ⇔ Otoge (taxi / private car, no scheduled bus)

For Mt. Gangaharasuriyama trailhead Otoge (1,560 m, parking 10 spaces, toilet), there is no scheduled bus; about 1 hr 20 min by taxi from JR Otsuki Station・~¥8,000, or private car (Chuo Expressway Otsuki IC → R20 → Pref. Rd 510, ~1 hr 15 min). The R510 section between Kuwanishi parking and Otoge is closed for winter from December to late April; climbing-possible period is May – November only. The Kanayama Onsen descent point for the Ubakoyama traverse requires advance taxi arrangement.

Operating period : Private car / taxi year-round (R510 Kuwanishi-Otoge section closed Dec-late Apr)
Travel time : Otsuki Stn → Otoge (taxi) ~1 hr 20 min
Fare : Taxi ~¥8,000 (one-way)
Frequency : No public scheduled bus, reservation taxi required

Otsuki Stn ⇔ Otoge (taxi / private car, no scheduled bus, reference)

Otsuki Stn dep	Otoge arr
Taxi (reservation required)	~1 hr 20 min・¥8,000
Private car (via Otsuki IC)	~1 hr 15 min

Note : There is no public scheduled bus to Otoge; taxi must be pre-reserved at Otsuki Station front (book the return leg too). Private car: R510 past Kuwanishi parking closed Dec – late Apr; even during season, road may close in bad weather — verify with Otsuki City Office. After descent, “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station or Kanayama Onsen (when doing Ubakoyama traverse) is recommended.

Reference : Tozanguchi Navi — Otoge parking ｜ Otsuki City official — Mt. Gangaharasuriyama course PDF
Contact : Otsuki Tourism Association ☎0554-22-2942 / Otsuki Taxi ☎0554-22-2120

3. Otoge course, Ubakoyama traverse, suggested plans

About Mt. Gangaharasuriyama
At 1,874 m in Otsuki City, Yamanashi. Selected as the 1st-rank peak of Otsuki City’s Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Ubakoyama), and the highest of the twelve. Famous as the filming location for the back-side Mt. Fuji image of the old 500-yen banknote (photographed by Hisasaku Natori on November 3, 1942), a popular spot for hikers seeking the nostalgic view of Mt. Fuji. The name “Gangaharasuri” comes from the idea that geese and ducks crossing the mountain “scrape their bellies” because it feels so high.

Trail overview (2 main courses)

Otoge course (standard, Beginner-Intermediate, ~3 hr round trip): Otoge → summit round trip; shortest, most popular, Mt. Fuji panorama
Ubakoyama traverse (Intermediate, ~5 hr): Otoge → Mt. Gangaharasuriyama → Mt. Ubakoyama → Kanayama Onsen; completes the 1st-rank peak of Shurei Fugaku
(Reference) Kanayama-kosen course (Intermediate, 4 hr ascent): Kanayama-kosen → Mt. Ubakoyama → Mt. Gangaharasuriyama; reverse route

Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– No huts on the trail: Day-hike basis
– Otoge parking: 10 spaces, free, toilet (in season)
– Kanayama Onsen “Kanayama-kosen Yamaguchi-kan”: Traverse descent point, day-bath available
– “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station: Drop-in bath

Climbing season / flora: May to November (R510 closed in winter). May: fresh greens, mitsuba-tsutsuji; June-July: rhododendron, alpine plants. October-November: autumn colors. Winter (Dec-Mar) is effectively unclimbable due to road closure.

Cautions
– R510 Kuwanishi-Otoge section closed Dec – late Apr: Climbing-possible period May-Nov
– No scheduled bus: Taxi or private car; book return taxi in advance
– Otoge parking 10 spaces: Frequently full on autumn-color weekends; early morning arrival recommended
– No water source: Carry at least 1 L
– Ubakoyama traverse for fit hikers: 5 hr, taxi arrangement to Kanayama Onsen descent point essential

Emergency contacts / inquiries

Otsuki City Office (Tourism Association): ☎0554-22-2942 / Otsuki Police (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0554-22-0110
Otsuki Taxi: ☎0554-22-2120 / JR Otsuki Station: ☎0554-22-0029
Kanayama-kosen Yamaguchi-kan (traverse descent): ☎0554-22-1730

Suggested plans (Otoge course, day hike, recommended, standard)

Day-hike Otoge round trip (recommended, Beginner-Intermediate, standard): Shinjuku 6:00 → Otsuki Stn 7:30 → taxi → Otoge 9:00 → summit 10:20 (Mt. Fuji panorama) → descent → Otoge 11:30 → taxi → Otsuki Stn 13:00 → return
Ubakoyama traverse (fit / Intermediate hikers, complete 1st-rank Shurei Fugaku): Otsuki Stn → taxi → Otoge → Mt. Gangaharasuriyama → Mt. Ubakoyama → descend to Kanayama Onsen → taxi → Otsuki Stn

Reference : Otsuki City official — Mt. Gangaharasuriyama course PDF ｜ Otsuki Tourism — Mt. Gangaharasuriyama