Mt. Akagi

Mt. Akagi (赤城山) is a 1,828m peak in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. One of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, it is a stratovolcano with a caldera lake (Onuma) made up of multiple peaks including the highest peak Mt. Kurobi, as well as Mt. Komagatake and Mt. Jizo. The Akagi Shrine at the foot and the nature of all four seasons are also attractions. On clear days in winter when the “Akagi-oroshi” wind blows, the views are also excellent.
From Maebashi Station on the JR Ryomo Line / Jomo Electric Railway, take a bus to the Mt. Akagi Visitor Center (about 1 hour 10 minutes).

Mt. Akagi is designated as one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, 100 Mountains of Flowers, New 100 Mountains of Flowers, 100 Famous Mountains of Kanto, and 100 Famous Mountains of Gunma.

Mt. Akagi can be accessed from JR Maebashi Station and Tobu Line Maebashi Station by bus bound for Akagi Hiroba-mae.
On weekdays a transfer is necessary, but on Sat/Sun/holidays there is a direct service, and the travel time is about 1 hour.

*Timetable last checked: May 16, 2026

1. [Outbound] Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae (Sat/Sun/holidays)
2. [Outbound] Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae (weekday)
3. [Return] Akagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station (Sat/Sun/holidays)
4. [Return] Akagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station (weekday)

1. [Outbound] Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae (Sat/Sun/holidays)

From Maebashi Station North Exit Platform 6 or in front of Chuo-Maebashi Station bus stop, board the bus bound for Akagi Hiroba-mae (direct bus).
Travel time: about 75 minutes
Fare: Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae ¥1,850

Bus TimetableMaebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae Direct Bus Timetable (summer schedule: April 1 ~ November 30, 2026)

Reference: Kan-etsu Kotsu Co., Ltd.

2. [Outbound] Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station → Akagi Hiroba-mae (weekday)

From Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus bound for Fujimi Onsen and get off at Fujimi Onsen.
At Fujimi Onsen, transfer to the bus bound for Akagi Hiroba-mae.
Travel time: Maebashi Station → Fujimi Onsen about 30 minutes | Fujimi Onsen → Akagi Hiroba-mae about 43 minutes
Fare: Maebashi Station → Fujimi Onsen ¥700 | Fujimi Onsen → Akagi Hiroba-mae ¥1,300

Bus TimetableMaebashi Station → Fujimi Onsen → Akagi Hiroba-mae Bus Connection Table (summer schedule: April 1 ~ November 30, 2026)

* The 7:32 departure runs direct, with no transfer at Fujimi Onsen. The 11:10, 14:05 and 16:15 buses to Akagi Hiroba-mae start from Fujimi Onsen, so take the Fujimi Onsen Line (Kan-etsu Kotsu routes 50A/50B) shown above to Fujimi Onsen and change there. The transfer time is 5 minutes for the 11:10, 8 minutes for the 14:05 and 17 minutes for the 16:15; since the bus to Akagi Hiroba-mae waits at Fujimi Onsen, even a short connection is reliable.

Reference: Kan-etsu Kotsu Co., Ltd.

3. [Return] Akagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station (Sat/Sun/holidays)

From Akagi Hiroba-mae, board the direct bus bound for Maebashi Station.
Travel time: about 75 minutes
Fare: Akagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station ¥1,850

Bus TimetableAkagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station Bus Timetable (summer schedule: April 1 ~ November 30, 2026)

* Besides the above direct buses, weekday services (4 runs) from Akagi Hiroba-mae bound for Fujimi Onsen also operate. At Fujimi Onsen, transfer to buses bound for Maebashi Station (every 30 minutes) is possible.

Reference: Kan-etsu Kotsu Co., Ltd.

4. [Return] Akagi Hiroba-mae → Maebashi Station / Chuo-Maebashi Station (weekday)

From Akagi Hiroba-mae, board the bus bound for Fujimi Onsen and get off at Fujimi Onsen.
At Fujimi Onsen, transfer to the bus toward Maebashi Station.
Travel time: Akagi Hiroba-mae → Fujimi Onsen about 43 minutes | Fujimi Onsen → Maebashi Station about 30 minutes
Fare: Akagi Hiroba-mae → Fujimi Onsen ¥1,300 | Fujimi Onsen → Maebashi Station ¥700

Bus TimetableAkagi Hiroba-mae → Fujimi Onsen → Maebashi Station Bus Connection Table (summer schedule: April 1 ~ November 30, 2026)

* Bound for Keyaki Walk Maebashi (does not stop at Maebashi Station). The next service bound for Maebashi Station departs at 14:10.

Reference: [Kan-etsu Kotsu Co., Ltd.]

Mt. Akagi Hiking Routes, Difficulty & Best Season

Mt. Akagi is a caldera stratovolcano made up of several peaks, including Mt. Kurobi, Mt. Komagatake and Mt. Jizo, and its trails are generally well maintained. The signature route is a loop from Lake Onuma linking Mt. Kurobi and Mt. Komagatake, a popular way to walk the main ridge of one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

Main routes

• Kurobiyama–Komagatake loop from Lake Onuma (Kurobiyama trailhead / Akagi Hiroba-mae): distance about 5.69 km / cumulative elevation gain about 566 m / time about 3 hours 30 minutes / difficulty: intermediate. The stretch near the Kurobiyama trailhead has some rocky, steep steps, but the trail becomes easier once you reach the ridge. The loop crosses the highest peak, Mt. Kurobi (1,828 m), continues on to Mt. Komagatake, and returns to Lake Onuma along the mountain’s main ridge.

Difficulty and fitness

The difficulty is intermediate. Trails are generally well maintained, but the section near the Kurobiyama trailhead has rocky, steep steps that call for care early on. Walking gets easier once you reach the ridge, and the loop’s standard time of about 3 hours 30 minutes makes it a comfortable day hike.

Best season

The trails are most pleasant from the fresh greenery of spring to the autumn colours of late fall (roughly May to November), with azaleas brightening the ridge around June. In winter, snow and rime ice call for light crampons and other cold-weather, anti-slip gear.

Highlights

The finest views are of the caldera lake, Lake Onuma, seen from the summit of Mt. Kurobi and the ridge. Mt. Jizo (an easy there-and-back walk from Akagi Hiroba-mae to a viewpoint and antenna cluster) and the marshland boardwalk at Kakumanbuchi are also popular, and either can be combined with the main loop depending on time and fitness. Shops and eateries line the shore of Lake Onuma.

Photo byTANAKA Juuyoh