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Mt. Shirasuna

2,140m · Gunma

Fitness 3 · ModerateDay tripTimetable checked 2026/05/17
Elevation2,140m
Fitness3/10
Walking7:42
Ascent1,276m
Mt. Shirasuna2,140 mGunma
100 Mountains of Gunma200 Famous Mountains100 Mountains of Kanto100 Mountains of Shinshu
🚃 Reachable by public transport · Day trip · Intermediate · for reasonably fit hikers
Intermediate
Stamina3/10
TechnicalC rocky sections / chains
Trail time 7h 42mestimatedDistance 13.37 kmmeasuredTotal ascent ↑1,276 mmeasuredHighest point 2,137 m
📍 Distance, ascent and trail time are for the route shown on the map.
Access ease Moderate First bus reaches trailhead by 9:11, No transfers
Gateway station Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station  →  Trailhead Nozori Lake
1 public-transport routes ・ One way ¥1,570
🌸 Best season: Jun, Oct bk🏠 Mountain huts, Water source, Toilets, Hot spring nearby
🔍 Find similar mountains →
“bk” = data from books (being replaced with our own measurements). Distance, ascent and trail time are measured/estimated from the map route.

Mt. Shirasuna (白砂山) is a 2,139.7m famous peak rising on the border of Nagano, Niigata, and Gunma Prefectures.
Selected as one of the 200 Famous Japanese Mountains, the 100 Famous Mountains of Kanto, and the 100 Famous Mountains of Gunma. From the ridge, you can see Mt. Naeba and Mt. Saburu, and on good days even a distant view of the Northern Alps is possible.
Main public transport is starting from JR Agatsuma Line Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, using the seasonal Nozori-ko extension service (5/1 – 10/20).

*Timetable last checked: May 17, 2026

Mt. Shirasuna Climbing Summary

  • Start point: Nozori-ko or Nozori-toge (5/1 – 10/20)
  • Standard course: Nozori-ko (campground) → Fujimi-toge → Doiwa-yama → Mt. Shirasuna (out and back)
  • Standard estimated trail time: ascent 3:20 – 3:40, descent 2:40 – 3:00 (total 6:00 – 6:40 reference)
  • Difficulty: intermediate (distance and undulation; even in summer, days with strong wind on the ridge)
  • Best season: June (cotton grass), July (Nikko-kisuge), late September – early October (autumn foliage)
  • Notes: Residual-snow period increases slip and route-finding risk. Bear appearances also occur, so carry a bear bell, spray, etc., and plenty of water and trail food.

How to access the trailheads

  1. [Outbound] Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station → Nozori-toge → Nozori-ko
  2. [Return] Nozori-ko → Nozori-toge → Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station

Hiking Course Details — Mt. Shirasuna

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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Shirasuna

Mt. Shirasuna — Reference Hiking Times

Standard pace; times rounded to 5 min
Segment Distance Ascent/Descent Forward Reverse
Nozori Lake → Jizo Pass Junction 1.5 km +202 m / −53 m 0:50 0:50
Jizo Pass Junction → Mt. Jizo 0.5 km +131 m / −0 m 0:25 0:20
Mt. Jizo → Mt. Doiwa 2.1 km +314 m / −63 m 1:15 1:10
Mt. Doiwa → Mt. Shirasuna 2.0 km +246 m / −159 m 1:15 1:20
Mt. Shirasuna → Mt. Doiwa Junction 1.8 km +127 m / −239 m 1:05 1:10
Mt. Doiwa Junction → Nakao-ne-no-Kashira 0.9 km +13 m / −98 m 0:20 0:25
Nakao-ne-no-Kashira → Kuroshibu-no-Kashira 1.4 km +128 m / −175 m 0:50 0:55
Kuroshibu-no-Kashira → Mt. Hachiken 1.1 km +101 m / −64 m 0:35 0:35
Mt. Hachiken → Ikaiwa-no-Kashira 0.7 km +14 m / −120 m 0:20 0:25
Ikaiwa-no-Kashira → Nozori Pass 1.3 km +0 m / −260 m 0:45 0:50
Total 13.4 km +1276 m / −1230 m 7:40 7:55

📥 Download GPX (reference route)

1. [Outbound] Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station → Nozori-toge → Nozori-ko

From JR Agatsuma Line Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, take the Rose Queen Transit “Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi – Nozori-ko Line” and get off at the terminus, Nozori-ko.

Travel time: 1 hour 50 minutes to Nozori-toge | 2 hours to Nozori-ko
Fare: ¥1,570
Operating period: May 1 – October 20

Bus TimetableBus Timetable

The 7:49 departure does not operate on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, school holidays, or summer vacation.
4 services/day (May 1 – October 20, 2026 extended to Nozori-ko; October 21 – April 30, 2027 only to Hanashiki Onsen; ※ mark = no service on Saturdays, holidays, school holidays)
Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station Dep. Nozori-ko Arr.
*7:49 *9:11
10:19 12:13
13:19 15:19

Reference: [Rokugo District Local Bus Timetable]

2. [Return] Nozori-ko → Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station

From the Nozori-ko bus stop, take the Rose Queen Transit “Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi – Nozori-ko Line” and get off at the terminus, Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station.

Travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes from Nozori-ko | 1 hour 10 minutes from Nozori-toge
Fare: ¥1,570
Operating period: May 1 – October 20

Bus TimetableBus Timetable bound for Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station

Nozori-ko Dep. Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station Arr.
9:26 11:11
12:37 14:21
15:39 17:52

Reference: [Rokugo District Local Bus Timetable]

Photo by wikipedia

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