Mt. Honjagamaru (ほんじゃがまる, 1,631m) on the Otsuki / Tsuru City border, Yamanashi, is the 12th-rank peak of the Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Seihachiyama). A Mt. Fuji viewpoint rising on the south bank of the Sasago River, the summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Southern Alps, the Yatsugatake range, and the Daibosatsu Range.
The standard route is Sasago Stn → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama out-and-back (~6-7 hr), or the Sasago Stn → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Mitsutoge → Mitsutoge Stn traverse (~10 hr). Intermediate ★★★★・distance ~12 km・elevation gain 1,000 m. The Sasago-Nishi trailhead (near the substation) is the base.
Access to the trailhead
- [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line Limited Express Kaiji)
- [Outbound / Return] Otsuki Stn ⇔ Sasago Stn / Mitsutoge Stn (JR Chuo Line local / Fujikyu Railway)
- Sasago course, Mitsutoge traverse, suggested plans
Course time (Sasago → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama out-and-back, day hike, Intermediate, ~7 hours)
Sasago Stn (610 m) → (0:30) → Sasago-Nishi trailhead → (3:00) → Mt. Honjagamaru (1,631 m) → (0:40) → Mt. Seihachiyama (1,593 m) → descent (2:30) → Sasago Stn
(Traverse) Sasago → Mitsutoge Stn traverse (Expert, ~10 hr): Sasago Stn → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Mitsutoge (1,785 m) → Mitsutoge Stn
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. Honjagamaru. 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. Sasago Station is local-only; transfer at Otsuki.
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 City official — Mt. Honjagamaru PDF
Contact : JR Otsuki Station ☎0554-22-0029
2. [Outbound / Return] Otsuki Stn ⇔ Sasago Stn / Mitsutoge Stn (JR Chuo Line local / Fujikyu Railway)
Sasago Station (610 m, JR Chuo Line local-only) is the trailhead base; Mitsutoge Station (Fujikyu Railway) is the traverse descent station. Otsuki → Sasago ~8 min・¥240 (JR Chuo Line local), Otsuki → Mitsutoge ~25 min・¥640 (Fujikyu Railway); service approx. every 30-60 min. Private car: Sasago Pass parking (few spaces, roadside free); roadside parking near Sasago Station is also possible. Limited Express Kaiji / Azusa bypass Sasago Station — transfer to local at Otsuki required.
Operating period : Year-round, JR Chuo Line local / Fujikyu Railway
Travel time : Otsuki Stn → Sasago ~8 min・Mitsutoge ~25 min
Fare : Sasago ¥240, Mitsutoge ¥640
Frequency : approx. every 30-60 min
Otsuki Stn → Sasago Stn (JR Chuo Line local, morning hiker excerpt)
| Otsuki Stn dep | Sasago Stn arr |
|---|---|
| 6:35 (early morning) | 6:43 |
| 7:25 | 7:33 |
| 8:18 | 8:26 |
Sasago Stn / Mitsutoge Stn → Otsuki Stn (return, JR Chuo Line local / Fujikyu Railway)
| Descent Stn dep | Line | Otsuki Stn arr |
|---|---|---|
| Sasago 14:55 | JR Chuo Line | 15:03 |
| Mitsutoge 14:35 | Fujikyu Railway | 15:00 |
| Sasago 16:55 | JR Chuo Line | 17:03 |
| Mitsutoge 16:35 | Fujikyu Railway | 17:00 |
Note : JR Chuo Line local and Fujikyu Railway timetables should always be pre-confirmed at the JR East / Fujikyu Railway official sites. Limited Express Kaiji / Azusa bypass Sasago Station. After descent, “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station or Mitsutoge area onsens (when doing traverse) are recommended.
Reference : JR East Chuo Line timetable ｜ Fujikyu Railway official
Contact : JR Otsuki Station ☎0554-22-0029 / Fujikyu Railway ☎0555-22-7133
3. Sasago course, Mitsutoge traverse, suggested plans
About Mt. Honjagamaru
At 1,631 m on the Otsuki / Tsuru City border, Yamanashi. Selected as the 12th-rank peak of Otsuki City’s Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Seihachiyama), and one of the 100 Famous Yamanashi Mountains. A Mt. Fuji viewpoint rising on the south bank of the Sasago River; the summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Southern Alps, the Yatsugatake range, and the Daibosatsu Range. Located at the northern tip of the Mitsutoge system, the traverse to Mitsutoge Station is a popular long route for fit hikers.
Trail overview (2 main courses)
- Sasago → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama out-and-back (standard, Intermediate, ~7 hr): Sasago Stn → Sasago-Nishi trailhead → Mt. Tsunotogi → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama → Sasago Stn; complete 12th-rank peak conquest
- Sasago → Mitsutoge traverse (Expert, ~10 hr): Sasago Stn → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Ohata → Mt. Mitsutoge → Mitsutoge Stn; long traverse
Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– No huts on the trail: Day-hike basis
– Roadside parking near Sasago Station: Few spaces
– “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station: Drop-in bath
– Mitsutoge area onsens (traverse descent): Kawaguchiko Onsen, Nishikatsura Town onsens
Climbing season / flora: May to November. May-June: mitsuba-tsutsuji, fresh greens; October-November: autumn colors. Winter (Dec-Feb) has snow / ice; light crampons / poles recommended.
Cautions
– Local / Fujikyu Railway transfer required at Otsuki: Limited Express bypasses Sasago
– 1,000 m steep elevation gain: Intermediate level, for fit hikers
– Mitsutoge traverse is 10+ hours: Very fit hikers only, early start required
– Water only at trailhead stream: Carry at least 1.5 L
– Winter ice caution: Light crampons recommended
Emergency contacts / inquiries
- Otsuki City Office (Tourism Association): ☎0554-22-2942 / Tsuru City Office: ☎0554-43-1111
- Otsuki Police (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0554-22-0110
- JR Otsuki Station: ☎0554-22-0029 / Fujikyu Railway: ☎0555-22-7133
Suggested plans (Sasago → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama out-and-back, day hike, recommended, standard)
- Day-hike out-and-back (recommended, Intermediate): Shinjuku 6:14 → Otsuki Stn 7:50 → Sasago Stn 7:58 → Sasago-Nishi trailhead 8:30 → Mt. Tsunotogi 10:30 → Mt. Honjagamaru 11:30 (Mt. Fuji panorama) → Mt. Seihachiyama 12:10 → Sasago Stn 14:55 → Otsuki Stn 15:03 → return
- Mitsutoge traverse (Expert, very fit): Sasago Stn → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Mitsutoge → Mitsutoge Stn (~10 hr), earliest start essential
Reference : Otsuki City official — Mt. Honjagamaru PDF ｜ Mt. Honjagamaru – Mt. Seihachiyama detailed guide
Photo by Alpsdake
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