Mt. Shibutsu

Mt. Shibutsu (至仏山) is a 2,228.1m peak in Oze National Park in the northeastern part of Gunma Prefecture.
A representative peak of Oze along with Mt. Hiuchi to the east, it is counted among the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. Alpine plants blooming on its serpentinite slopes are magnificent, drawing many climbers in the flower season. Endemic species such as Ozeso can also be seen.
The standard approach is via bus connections from Jomokogen Station / Numata Station, accessing from Hatomachi-toge.

[Mt. Shibutsu trail and conservation rules (2026)]

• For vegetation protection during the residual-snow period, the Mt. Shibutsu trail is typically fully closed from early May to the end of June for residual-snow vegetation protection (Hatomachi-toge – Oyamasawa-tashiro – Mt. Shibutsu – Yama-no-Hana). For the exact 2026 period and mountain-opening date, see the Oze Preservation Foundation
• The Yama-no-Hana → Mt. Shibutsu (east face) trail is “uphill-only (no descent)”. Descend toward the Hatomachi-toge side. Climbing rules
• Portable toilet required (no toilets around the summit). Serpentinite is extremely slippery — beware of falls. Oze Preservation Foundation

*Timetable last checked: July 3, 2026

1. [Outbound] Jomokogen Station / Numata Station → Togura → Hatomachi-toge

Step 1.
From Joetsu Shinkansen Jomokogen Station or Joetsu Line Numata Station, take the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus bound for Hatomachi-toge direction and get off at the Hatomachi-toge bus connection point.
Because services departing from Jomokogen are few, if using the Shinkansen, transferring from Takasaki Station to the Joetsu Line and going to Numata Station is recommended.

Step 2.
At Togura (Hatomachi-toge bus connection point), transfer to the Togura ~ Hatomachi-toge shared bus to Hatomachi-toge.

Operating period: April 18 – November 3, 2026

Step 1 Fare: ¥2,500 from Numata (¥2,900 from Jomokogen) / Travel time: about 1 hour 20 minutes
Step 2 Fare: ¥1,300 / Travel time: about 35 minutes

Bus Timetable Jomokogen / Numata Station to Hatomachi-toge Bus Connection Table

A schedule operating period

Sat/Sun/holidays from April 18 – May 22 / daily May 23 – August 16 / Sat/Sun/holidays from August 17 – September 18 / daily September 19 – October 18

B schedule operating period

Weekdays April 18 – May 22 / daily October 19 – November 3

* Between Togura and Hatomachi-toge, the shared bus and shared taxi run on the same timetable and fare (¥1,300 for adults). The C schedule (weekdays August 17 – September 18) uses the same times as the B schedule, with one extra early run, Togura 5:30 → Hatomachi-toge 6:05 (for overnight-bus “Oze-go” passengers only).

Reference:
Kan-etsu Kotsu Togura – Hatomachi-toge (2026 operation) /
Kan-etsu Kotsu Kamata Line down (Jomokogen / Numata → Kamata / Oze-Togura) 2026/4/1 revised

2. [Return] Hatomachi-toge → Togura → Numata Station / Jomokogen Station

Step 1.
From Hatomachi-toge, take the Togura ~ Hatomachi-toge shared bus to Togura (Hatomachi-toge bus connection point).

Step 2.
From Togura (Hatomachi-toge bus connection point), take the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus bound for Numata Station / Jomokogen Station direction.

Operating period: April 18 – November 3, 2026

Step 1 Fare: ¥1,300 / Travel time: about 35 minutes
Step 2 Fare: ¥2,500 from Numata (¥2,900 from Jomokogen) / Travel time: about 1 hour 20 minutes

Bus TimetableHatomachi-toge to Numata Station / Jomokogen Bus Connection Table

A schedule operating period
Sat/Sun/holidays from April 18 – May 22 / daily May 23 – August 16 / Sat/Sun/holidays from August 17 – September 18 / daily September 19 – October 18

B schedule operating period
Weekdays April 18 – May 22 / daily October 19 – November 3

Reference:
Togura – Hatomachi-toge (2026 operation, Kan-etsu Kotsu) /
Kan-etsu Kotsu Kamata Line up (Oze-Togura → Numata / Jomokogen) 2026/4/1 revised /
Kan-etsu Kotsu summary (timetable excerpt)