Mt. Tanigawa

Mt. Tanigawa (谷川岳) is a 1,977m peak on the border of Gunma and Niigata Prefectures. One of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, from the twin peaks “Toma-no-Mimi” and “Oki-no-Mimi” you can enjoy a 360-degree grand panorama. Since you can gain elevation at once by ropeway, it is a popular mountain for day-trip climbing. The autumn foliage and the impact of the rock walls are spectacular.
From Minakami Station on the JR Joetsu Line, you can access Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway) by bus (about 25 minutes).

For Mt. Tanigawa, it is common to use the ropeway (current: Tanigawadake Yoh by Hoshino Resorts) to go up to mid-mountain.
For Tanigawadake Yoh, when using the Shinkansen access from Jomokogen Station, when using conventional line access from Minakami Station by bus.

Tanigawadake Yoh operating hours
April ~ November
Weekday: 8:00–17:00
Sat/Sun/holidays: 7:00–17:00

December ~ March
All days: 8:30–16:30

Ropeway fare
Adult: one-way ¥1,800 / round trip ¥3,000
Elementary school: one-way ¥900 / round trip ¥1,500

Note: From Doai Station, the closest to the ropeway, it is about 20 minutes on foot, but there is a very long staircase between the platform and the ticket gate.

*Timetable last checked: May 30, 2026

1. [Outbound] Jomokogen Station → Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway)

From Jomokogen Station bus stop Platform 1, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus “bound for Minakami Station / Tanigawadake Yoh” and get off at the terminus, Tanigawadake Yoh. Only direct services starting from Jomokogen Station are listed (services terminating at Minakami Station are excluded).
Travel time: about 45 minutes
Fare: ¥1,400

Bus TimetableJomokogen Station → Tanigawadake Yoh

Reference: [NAVITIME]

2. [Outbound] Minakami Station → Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway)

From Minakami Station Platform 3, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus “bound for Tanigawadake Yoh” and get off at the terminus. In addition to the direct services from Jomokogen Station, services originating from Minakami Station are also available.
Travel time: about 20 minutes
Fare: ¥850

Bus TimetableMinakami Station → Tanigawadake Yoh

Reference: [NAVITIME]

3. [Outbound] Doai Station → Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway)

From Doai Station, it is about 20 minutes on foot to Tanigawadake Yoh. All buses from Jomokogen / Minakami Station stop here, but as there are 462 stairs between the platform and the ticket gate, unless there is a special reason, taking the bus from Minakami Station is recommended.
Fare guide: Ueno Station → Doai Station IC ¥3,880 (JR Joetsu Line, conventional)
Bus fare: Doai Station-mae → Tanigawadake Yoh ¥770

Reference: Like an underground fortress, “Japan’s number one mole station” Joetsu Line / Doai Station

Bus TimetableDoai Station → Tanigawadake Yoh

Reference: [NAVITIME]

4. [Return] Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway) → Jomokogen Station

From the Tanigawadake Yoh bus stop, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus “bound for Jomokogen Station”. All services go via Minakami Station.
Travel time: about 50 minutes
Fare: ¥1,400

Bus TimetableTanigawadake Yoh → Jomokogen Station

Reference: [NAVITIME]

5. [Return] Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway) → Minakami Station

From the Tanigawadake Yoh bus stop, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus “bound for Minakami Station” or “bound for Jomokogen Station”.
Travel time: about 23 minutes
Fare: ¥850

Bus TimetableTanigawadake Yoh → Minakami Station

Reference: [NAVITIME]

6. [Return] Tanigawadake Yoh (formerly Tanigawadake Ropeway) → Doai Station

About 20 minutes on foot. By bus, about 3 minutes.
Bus fare: Tanigawadake Yoh → Doai Station-mae ¥770
Fare guide: Doai Station → Ueno Station IC ¥3,880 (JR Joetsu Line, conventional)

Bus TimetableTanigawadake Yoh → Doai Station

Reference: [NAVITIME]

Tanigawadake trailheads (Tenjindaira and the Nishikuro Ridge)

The classic route is the Tenjin Ridge. Ride the Tanigawadake Yoho ropeway up to Tenjindaira Station (about 1,320 m) — the trail starts right there. Via the Kumaanazawa emergency hut and Kata-no-hiroba you reach the twin summits Toma-no-mimi and Oki-no-mimi; the standard round trip takes about 4.5–5 hours excluding breaks. For beginners and intermediates this is the route to choose.

The Nishikuro Ridge trailhead is about a 10-minute walk from Yoho (Doaiguchi) along the road toward Ichinokurasawa, just past the Tanigawadake climbing information center. It is one of Japan’s “three great steep climbs” — a relentless direct ascent for strong hikers. Climbing up the Nishikuro Ridge and descending by ropeway is a popular loop, but it demands solid fitness and experience.

Reference: YAMA HACK course guide: Tenjin Ridge round trip