Mt. Kukiyama (くきやま, 970m) on the Otsuki / Tsuru City border, Yamanashi, is the 10th-rank peak of the Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views. Known as “the mountain of the Momotaro legend” (where Momotaro, born at Mt. Momokurayama in Otsuki, defeated the ogre living on Mt. Kukiyama), it offers excellent Mt. Fuji views from a station-accessible Beginner-Intermediate peak.
The Fujikyu Tanokura Stn → Sugiyama-shindo → summit → Konya-no-Yasumiba → Kasei Stn circuit is the standard. Beginner-Intermediate ★★★・distance ~7 km・elevation gain 540 m・action time ~3-4 hours (day hike). The summit overlooks Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Daibosatsu Range, and the maglev (linear motor train) test track.
Access to the trailhead
- [Outbound / Return] Otsuki Stn ⇔ Tanokura Stn / Kasei Stn (Fujikyu Railway)
- Circuit route, suggested plans
Course time (Tanokura → Kasei Stn circuit, day hike, Beginner-Intermediate, ~4 hours)
Tanokura Stn (440 m) → (0:20) → Sugiyama-shindo trailhead → (1:50) → Mt. Kukiyama summit (970 m) → (1:30) → Konya-no-Yasumiba → Kasei Stn (450 m)
1. [Outbound / Return] Otsuki Stn ⇔ Tanokura Stn / Kasei Stn (Fujikyu Railway)
Tanokura Station (440 m, Sugiyama-shindo trailhead, circuit start) and Kasei Station (450 m, Konya-no-Yasumiba trailhead, circuit end) are on the Fujikyu Railway. Otsuki → Tanokura ~18 min・¥440, Otsuki → Kasei ~15 min・¥420, service approx. every 30-60 min. Private car: coin parking near Kasei Station (few spaces, paid), or via Michi-no-Eki Tsuru (Tsuru City) and walking access.
Operating period : Year-round, Fujikyu Railway
Travel time : Otsuki Stn → Tanokura ~18 min・Kasei ~15 min
Fare : Tanokura ¥440, Kasei ¥420
Frequency : approx. every 30-60 min
Otsuki Stn → Tanokura / Kasei Stn (Fujikyu Railway, morning hiker excerpt)
| Otsuki Stn dep | Tanokura Stn arr | Kasei Stn arr |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 (morning) | 7:18 | 7:15 |
| 8:00 | 8:18 | 8:15 |
| 9:00 | 9:18 | 9:15 |
Tanokura / Kasei Stn → Otsuki Stn (Fujikyu Railway, return, descent excerpt)
| Kasei Stn dep | Tanokura Stn dep | Otsuki Stn arr |
|---|---|---|
| 14:48 | 14:51 | 15:03 |
| 15:48 | 15:51 | 16:03 |
| 16:48 | 16:51 | 17:03 |
Note : Fujikyu Railway timetables should always be pre-confirmed at the Fujikyu Railway official site. Limited Express Kaiji / Azusa do not run on Fujikyu Railway; transfer to Fujikyu Railway at Otsuki Station is required. After descent, “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station or Tsuru City onsens are recommended; Michi-no-Eki Tsuru is also a good rest stop.
Reference : Fujikyu Railway official ｜ Tsuru Citizens’ Mt. Kukiyama guide
Contact : JR Otsuki Station ☎0554-22-0029 / Fujikyu Railway ☎0555-22-7133
2. Circuit route, suggested plans
About Mt. Kukiyama
At 970 m on the Otsuki / Tsuru City border, Yamanashi. Selected as the 10th-rank peak of Otsuki City’s Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views, also one of Tsuru City’s Twenty-One Excellent Peaks and the 100 Famous Yamanashi Mountains. Known as a Momotaro legend mountain — the tale says Momotaro, born at Otsuki’s Mt. Momokurayama, defeated the ogre on Mt. Kukiyama. The summit overlooks Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Daibosatsu Range, and the maglev test track. A standard “station-to-summit” model with walking access from Fujikyu Railway stations.
Trail overview (2 main courses)
- Tanokura → Kasei circuit (Sugiyama-shindo / Konya-no-Yasumiba, standard, Beginner-Intermediate, ~4 hr): Fujikyu Tanokura Stn → Sugiyama-shindo → Mt. Kukiyama summit → Konya-no-Yasumiba → Fujikyu Kasei Stn; popular and classic
- Kasei Stn out-and-back (Intermediate, ~4 hr): Kasei Stn → Konya-no-Yasumiba → summit round trip, or descend to Tanokura Stn
Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– No huts on the trail: Day-hike basis
– Coin parking near Kasei Station: Few spaces, paid
– Michi-no-Eki Tsuru (Tsuru City): Post-descent stop, toilet / meals
– “Tenku-no-Yu” near Otsuki Station: Drop-in bath
Climbing season / flora: Year-round possible. March: hime-shara fresh greens; May-June: mitsuba-tsutsuji, yama-tsutsuji. October-November: autumn colors. Winter (Dec-Feb) has low snow, walkable by beginners.
Cautions
– Fujikyu Railway transfer required at Otsuki: JR Limited Express does not run on Fujikyu
– No water source: Carry at least 1 L; heat caution in summer
– Circuit course recommended: Tanokura → Kasei direction is popular
– Momotaro legend signs: On summit / trail, story can be confirmed
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 (Tanokura → Kasei circuit, day hike, recommended, standard)
- Day-hike circuit (Tanokura → Kasei, recommended, Beginner-Intermediate): Shinjuku 7:00 → Otsuki Stn 8:30 → Tanokura Stn 8:48 → Sugiyama-shindo 9:10 → Mt. Kukiyama summit 11:00 (Mt. Fuji panorama) → Konya-no-Yasumiba 12:30 → Kasei Stn 13:00 → Otsuki Stn 13:15 → return
- Kasei out-and-back (simple, Beginner): Kasei Stn → Konya-no-Yasumiba → summit round trip → Kasei Stn
Reference : Tsuru Citizens’ Mt. Kukiyama guide ｜ Tsuru City — Mt. Kukiyama
Photo by Koda6029
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