Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama

Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama (うしおくのがんがはらすりやま, 2,014m) on the Koshu / Otsuki City border, Yamanashi, is the 2nd-rank peak of the Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views (paired with Mt. Koganesawayama). The 2nd-rank pair has the highest elevation among the Twelve, located on the ridge south of Mt. Daibosatsu. The summit offers a 360° panorama of Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps, and the Yatsugatake range.

The standard route is the Kamihikawa Pass → Daibosatsu Pass → Mt. Koganesawayama → Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama → Suzuran Insect Museum traverse (~6 hr). Intermediate ★★★★・distance ~11 km・elevation gain 600 m・action time ~6 hours (day hike). Popular as the traverse for the complete 2nd-rank peak conquest.

*Timetable last checked: 2026年05月22日

1. [Outbound / Return] Kai-Yamato Stn ⇔ Kamihikawa Pass / Suzuran Insect Museum (Eiwa Kotsu Bus, summer-only)

Kamihikawa Pass (1,580 m, trailhead start) and Suzuran Insect Museum (1,200 m, descent point) are reached by Eiwa Kotsu Bus from JR Chuo Line Kai-Yamato Station. To Kamihikawa Pass ~49 min・¥1,020・4 services/day (summer May-Nov operation); Suzuran Insect Museum has weekend extra service only. Private car: Chuo Expressway Katsunuma IC, ~19 km to Kamihikawa Pass parking (400+ spaces, free). Daibosatsu Forest Road closed mid-December to late April for winter.

Operating period : Eiwa Kotsu Bus typically May – November (climbing season only), weekend extra services (Suzuran Insect Museum route)
Travel time : Kai-Yamato Stn → Kamihikawa Pass ~49 min
Fare : Kamihikawa Pass ¥1,020 (one-way), Suzuran Insect Museum ~¥800
Frequency : 4 services/day (weekdays), increased on weekends

Kai-Yamato Stn → Kamihikawa Pass (Eiwa Kotsu Bus, summer-only, hiker reference)

Kamihikawa Pass / Suzuran Insect Museum → Kai-Yamato Stn (Eiwa Kotsu Bus, return, summer-only)

Note : Eiwa Kotsu Bus operating days and timetables should always be pre-confirmed at the Eiwa Kotsu official or Koshu City Tourism. Suzuran Insect Museum bus stop is weekend extra only; weekday traverse descent requires walk + taxi (via Kamihikawa Pass). After descent, Daibosatsu-no-Yu (Koshu City) or Katsunuma Budo-kyo onsens are recommended.

Reference : Yamakei Online — Kamihikawa Pass ｜ Tozanguchi Navi — Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama
Contact : Eiwa Kotsu ☎0553-44-1311 / Koshu City Tourism ☎0553-32-5091

2. Traverse course, Koganesawayama link, suggested plans

About Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama
The Shurei Fugaku Twelve Views are mountains chosen by Otsuki City for their outstanding views of Mt. Fuji, with 20 summits spread across numbers 1 to 12. Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama, paired with the neighbouring Mt. Koganesawayama, is counted as the 2nd-rank peak, and at 2,014m the two form the highest pair among the Twelve Views. It is known as “the mountain with the longest name in Japan,” its name meaning a pass so high that geese brush their bellies against it as they cross. Lying on the Koganesawa Range that extends south from Mt. Daibosatsu, it is flanked before and after the summit by a gentle, open ridge.

Trail overview (2 main courses)

• Kamihikawa Pass → Daibosatsu Pass → Mt. Koganesawayama → Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama → Suzuran Insect Museum traverse (standard, Intermediate, ~6 hr): Complete 2nd-rank peak conquest, popular and classic
• Kamihikawa Pass → Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama → Mt. Daibosatsu circuit (Intermediate, ~7 hr): Including Mt. Daibosatsu, for fit hikers

Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– Kaizan-so (Daibosatsu Pass, ☎0553-32-5466): Year-round, lodging / shop / water refill
– Fukuchan-so (below Daibosatsu Pass, ☎0553-32-1828): Year-round, lodging / shop
– Kamihikawa Pass parking: 400+ spaces, free
– Daibosatsu-no-Yu (Koshu City, bath ¥620): Post-descent drop-in

Climbing season / flora: May to November (Daibosatsu Forest Road closed in winter). May-June: mitsuba-tsutsuji, fresh greens; July-August: alpine plants. Late September to October: autumn colors / alpine grass autumn. Winter (Dec-April) is effectively unclimbable due to road closure.

Cautions
– Daibosatsu Forest Road closed mid-December to late April: Climbing-possible period May-Nov
– Suzuran Insect Museum bus weekend-only: Weekday traverse recommends Kamihikawa Pass out-and-back
– Water at huts only: Kaizan-so / Fukuchan-so; carry at least 1.5 L
– 2,000 m-class ridge: Sudden weather changes / hypothermia precautions; bring cold gear even in summer
– Transfer at Otsuki: JR Chuo Line Limited Express bypasses Kai-Yamato

Emergency contacts / inquiries

• Koshu City Tourism: ☎0553-32-5091 / Otsuki City (Tourism Association): ☎0554-22-2942
• Koshu Police Station (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0553-32-0110
• Kaizan-so (Daibosatsu Pass): ☎0553-32-5466 / Fukuchan-so: ☎0553-32-1828
• Eiwa Kotsu (Bus): ☎0553-44-1311

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

• Day-hike traverse (recommended, Intermediate, complete 2nd-rank conquest): Shinjuku 6:14 → Otsuki Stn 7:50 → Kai-Yamato Stn 8:06 → Eiwa Kotsu Bus 8:10 → Kamihikawa Pass 9:00 → Daibosatsu Pass 10:00 → Mt. Koganesawayama 11:30 → Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama 12:30 (Mt. Fuji panorama) → Suzuran Insect Museum 15:00 → weekend bus → Kai-Yamato Stn → return
• Kamihikawa Pass out-and-back (weekday, Beginner): Kamihikawa Pass → Daibosatsu Pass → Mt. Koganesawayama → Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama round trip (~7 hr), standard for weekday traverse

Reference : Yamakei Online — Kamihikawa Pass ｜ Tozanguchi Navi — Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama

Photo by Hobomushi