Hotakayama

Mt. Hotaka (武尊山ほたかやま) is a 2,158-meter mountain in northern Gunma Prefecture and one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains.
To distinguish it from 穂高岳ほたかだけ in the Northern Alps, it is also called “Joshu Hotakayama.” Its deep, unspoiled natural setting is the mountain’s greatest appeal.

This page introduces bus access to the trailheads for Mt. Hotaka.

*Timetable last checked: [sc name=”updated_date”][/sc]

Map

Access to Trailhead

1. 1. Going: Minakami Sta. → Hotaka-bashi
2. 2. Going: Numata Sta. → Kenkōmura
3. 3. Going: Numata Sta. → Kawaba Onsen-guchi
4. 4. Return: Hotaka-bashi → Minakami Sta.
5. 5. Return: Kenkōmura → Numata Sta.
6. 6. Return: Kawaba Onsen-guchi → Numata Sta.

1. Going: Minakami Sta. → Hotaka-bashi

From 水上みなかみ Station bus stop Platform 4, take the Kan-Etsu Kotsu bus bound for Takaragawa Onsen / Yunokoya and get off at Hotaka-bashi.
Travel time: 24 min
Fare: ¥1,000

From Hotaka-bashi, it is about 5.5 hours to the summit.

Bus Timetable: Minakami Sta. → Hotaka-bashi

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu

2. Going: Numata Sta. → Kenkōmura

From 沼田ぬまた Station bus stop Platform 4, take the Kan-Etsu Kotsu Numata Sta. – Kawaba Circular Line and get off at Kenkōmura.
*This is a circular route with both clockwise and counterclockwise services; both are listed below.

Travel time: Approx. 30 min
Fare: ¥880

Bus Timetable: Numata Sta. → Kenkōmura

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu

3. Going: Numata Sta. → Kawaba Onsen-guchi

From Numata Station bus stop Platform 4, take the Kan-Etsu Kotsu Numata Sta. – Kawaba Circular Line and get off at Kawaba Onsen-guchi.
*This is a circular route with both clockwise and counterclockwise services; both are listed below.

Travel time: Approx. 30 min
Fare: ¥790

Bus Timetable: Numata Sta. → Kawaba Onsen-guchi

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu

4. Return: Hotaka-bashi → Minakami Sta.

From Hotaka-bashi bus stop, take the bus bound for Minakami Station.

Travel time: 31 min
Fare: ¥1,000

Bus Timetable: Hotaka-bashi → Minakami Sta.

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu

5. Return: Kenkōmura → Numata Sta.

From Kenkōmura bus stop, take the “Numata Sta. – Kawaba Circular Line” to Numata Station.
*This is a circular route with both clockwise and counterclockwise services; both are listed below.

Travel time: Approx. 30 min
Fare: ¥880

Bus Timetable: Kenkōmura → Numata Sta.

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu

6. Return: Kawaba Onsen-guchi → Numata Sta.

From Kawaba Onsen-guchi bus stop, take the “Numata Sta. – Kawaba Circular Line” to Numata Station.
*This is a circular route with both clockwise and counterclockwise services; both are listed below.

Travel time: Approx. 30 min
Fare: ¥790

Bus Timetable: Kawaba Onsen-guchi → Numata Sta.

Reference: Kan-Etsu Kotsu