Mt. Seihachiyama (せいはちやま, 1,593m) on the Otsuki / Tsuru / Fuefuki City border, Yamanashi, is the 12th-rank peak of the Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Honjagamaru). Located on the Misaka ridge north of the Mitsutoge system, the summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Southern Alps, the Yatsugatake range, and the Daibosatsu Range.
Paired with Mt. Honjagamaru, the standard route covers both peaks. Intermediate ★★★★・distance ~12 km・elevation gain 980 m・action time ~7 hours. Options are the Sasago Stn → Seihachi Pass → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru → Sasago Stn circuit, or the Mitsutoge traverse (~10 hr long route).
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, Honjagamaru traverse, suggested plans
Course time (Sasago → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru circuit, day hike, Intermediate, ~7 hours)
Sasago Stn (610 m) → (0:30) → Sasago-Nishi trailhead → (3:00) → Seihachi Pass → (0:20) → Mt. Seihachiyama (1,593 m) → (0:40) → Mt. Honjagamaru (1,631 m) → descent (2:30) → Sasago Stn
(Traverse) Sasago → Mitsutoge Stn traverse (Expert, ~10 hr): Sasago Stn → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Ohata → 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. Seihachiyama. 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 Tourism Association
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: roadside parking near Sasago Station (few spaces). 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 |
|---|---|
| 5:55 (early) | 6:03 |
| 6:35 | 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, Honjagamaru traverse, suggested plans
About Mt. Seihachiyama
At 1,593 m on the Otsuki / Tsuru / Fuefuki City border, Yamanashi. Selected as the 12th-rank peak of Otsuki City’s Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Honjagamaru), located at the northern end of the Misaka ridge. The summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, Mt. Mitsutoge, the Southern Alps, the Yatsugatake range, and the Daibosatsu Range. A 40-min walk from Mt. Honjagamaru — the two-peak set conquest is standard. Also used as the base for the Mt. Mitsutoge traverse.
Trail overview (2 main courses)
- Sasago → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru out-and-back (standard, Intermediate, ~7 hr): Sasago Stn → Sasago-Nishi trailhead → Seihachi Pass → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru → Sasago Stn; complete 12th-rank peak conquest
- Sasago → Mitsutoge traverse (Expert, ~10 hr): Sasago Stn → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru → 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
– Steep climb from Seihachi Pass: 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 / Fuefuki City Office: ☎055-262-1111
- Otsuki Police (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0554-22-0110
- JR Otsuki Station: ☎0554-22-0029 / Fujikyu Railway: ☎0555-22-7133
Suggested plans (Sasago → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru 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 → Seihachi Pass 11:00 → Mt. Seihachiyama 11:20 (Mt. Fuji panorama) → Mt. Honjagamaru 12:00 → Sasago Stn 14:55 → Otsuki Stn 15:03 → return
- Mitsutoge traverse (Expert, very fit): Sasago Stn 6:00 → Mt. Seihachiyama → Mt. Honjagamaru → Mt. Mitsutoge → Mitsutoge Stn 16:00 (~10 hr)
Reference : Mt. Seihachiyama – Mt. Honjagamaru detailed guide ｜ Otsuki Tourism Association
Photo by Alpsdake
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