Mt. Gongen

Mt. Gongen (権現岳, 2,715 m), on the border of Nagano and Yamanashi, is a rocky peak in the southern part of the Yatsugatake range and one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
From its sharp rocky summit there is a sweeping view from Mt. Aka and Mt. Amida to the Southern Alps and Mt. Fuji. It stands on the scenic ridge linking Mt. Amigasa, the southernmost peak of Yatsugatake, with the Seinen hut, a mountain of rock and long ladders. The usual route is a one-night, two-day climb from Kannondaira via Mt. Amigasa and the Seinen hut to Mt. Gongen. By public transport you reach Kannondaira from Kobuchizawa Station by the summer reservation-only shared taxi “MOUNTAIN TAXI”.

The base is Kannondaira (about 1,560 m); via Mt. Amigasa (2,524 m) and the Seinen hut it is about 4 hours 50 minutes to Mt. Gongen. From Kannondaira to just below the summit of Mt. Gongen the ridge is rocky and lined with creeping pine, with wide views, and a one-night, two-day trip with a night at the Seinen hut is usual. The Gongen hut just below the summit is closed again in 2026, so use the Seinen hut, which stands below Mt. Amigasa at the southern end of Yatsugatake, as your base.
Use the Seinen hut (about 2,380 m, reservations only, booking tel 0551-36-2251, campsite is first-come without reservation, open April 25–November 8 in 2026) as a base. The season is July to October. You reach Kannondaira from Kobuchizawa Station by the summer reservation-only shared taxi; outside the operating period it is a regular taxi or a car. The traverse ridge from Mt. Gongen to Mt. Aka (the Kiretto) is outside the scope of this article.

*Information last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Kobuchizawa Station → Kannondaira (MOUNTAIN TAXI, summer)
2. [Return] Kannondaira → Kobuchizawa Station (MOUNTAIN TAXI, summer)
3. [Outbound] Takebashi / Keiō-Hachiōji → Kannondaira (Mainichi Alpen-gō overnight bus)

1. [Outbound] Kobuchizawa Station → Kannondaira (MOUNTAIN TAXI, summer)

The trailhead, Kannondaira, has no route bus; you reach it from Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line by the reservation-only shared taxi “MOUNTAIN TAXI” (run by Hokuto City). In 2026 it operates from June 15 to November 15; the outbound leaves Kobuchizawa Station at 9:00 and takes about 30 minutes to Kannondaira. The fare is 1,500 yen one way on weekdays and 1,800 yen on weekends and holidays, and a web reservation is required by 17:00 the day before (no same-day boarding). Outside the operating period (mid-November to mid-June), use a regular taxi (about 15 minutes, about 3,200 yen from Kobuchizawa Station) or a car.

MOUNTAIN TAXI Kannondaira line (outbound): Kobuchizawa Station → Kannondaira

Regular taxi: outside the operating period, or before and after the service hours, take a regular taxi from Kobuchizawa Station (about 15 minutes, about 3,200 yen; Kobuchizawa Taxi tel 0120-362-055 and others) to Kannondaira. By car: Kannondaira has a free car park (about 80 spaces) and a toilet, and it fills early on summer weekends. Check the latest service, times and fares with MOUNTAIN TAXI.

Reference: [MOUNTAIN TAXI (Hokuto City) official]

2. [Return] Kannondaira → Kobuchizawa Station (MOUNTAIN TAXI, summer)

After descending, return from Kannondaira to Kobuchizawa Station on the MOUNTAIN TAXI return service. The return leaves Kannondaira at 16:00 and takes about 30 minutes to Kobuchizawa Station, and as on the outbound a web reservation by 17:00 the day before is required. If you are late and miss the 16:00 service, call a regular taxi from Kannondaira (arranging it in advance is safer, as the signal is weak). On a one-night, two-day trip staying at the Seinen hut, you go out-and-back to Mt. Gongen on day two, descend to Kannondaira and catch the 16:00 return with time to spare.

MOUNTAIN TAXI Kannondaira line (return): Kannondaira → Kobuchizawa Station

Reference: [MOUNTAIN TAXI (Hokuto City) official]

3. [Outbound] Takebashi / Keiō-Hachiōji → Kannondaira (Mainichi Alpen-gō overnight bus)

From Tokyo, Maitabi’s overnight hikers’ bus “Mainichi Alpen-gō” Yatsugatake–Kannondaira service (reservation only) reaches Kannondaira early in the morning. In 2026 it runs on selected days from late May to mid-October: Takebashi 23:00 / Keiō-Hachiōji Station 24:15 → Kannondaira about 4:30, ¥10,000–15,000 one way depending on the date. On days when the Kannondaira car park is too crowded for the bus to turn around, you alight about 450 m before it (about 7 min on foot). Starting so early, you can even do Gongendake as a day trip without staying at Seinen Hut and return to Kobuchizawa Station on the 16:00 MOUNTAIN TAXI (no Alpen-gō return service boards at Kannondaira).

Night Bus Takebashi / Keiō-Hachiōji → Kannondaira (Mainichi Alpen-gō)

Reference: [Maitabi – Mainichi Alpen-gō Yatsugatake Kannondaira (outbound)]

Route and safety notes

Route (from Kannondaira via Mt. Amigasa): Kannondaira → Unkai viewpoint (about 50 m) → Oshidegawa (about 40 m) → Mt. Amigasa, 2,524 m (about 1 h 30 m) → Seinen hut (about 30 m) → Noroshiba (about 25 m) → Mt. Gongen, 2,715 m (about 55 m). It is about 4 hours 50 minutes from Kannondaira to Mt. Gongen. Staying at the Seinen hut and going out-and-back to Mt. Gongen on day two is the standard plan. There is also a bypass from Oshidegawa that skirts Mt. Amigasa straight to the Seinen hut.

Huts: the Seinen hut below Mt. Amigasa (Seinen hut, about 2,380 m, reservations only, booking tel 0551-36-2251, campsite first-come without reservation, open April 25–November 8 in 2026) is the base. The Gongen hut just below the summit is closed again in 2026, so Mt. Gongen is done out-and-back from the Seinen hut (about 2 hours 50 minutes round trip).

Mt. Amigasa: the southernmost viewpoint of Yatsugatake (2,524 m); its summit is a large field of boulders. It commands Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps and the Central Alps, as well as Mt. Gongen and Mt. Aka ahead.

Mt. Gongen summit: a sharp rocky peak; beyond Noroshiba the ridge has chained rock. On the east side of the summit a long “Genji ladder” descends toward the Mt. Aka Kiretto. The summit commands Mt. Aka, Mt. Amida, the Southern Alps and Mt. Fuji.

The Kiretto traverse (Mt. Gongen → Mt. Aka): a difficult stretch of ladders, loose scree and chained rock for experienced climbers. General hikers go out-and-back to Mt. Gongen and return to Kannondaira via Mt. Amigasa.

Season and gear: the season is July to October. In the snow and frozen seasons full gear and experience are needed. As there is rock and ladders, carry a helmet, rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp and plenty of water.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest with the Yamanashi and Nagano prefectural police.

Photo by Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0