Mt. Tanigawa-dake (谷川岳)

Mount Tanigawa-dake (谷川岳) rises to 1,977m on the border between Gunma and Niigata Prefectures.
It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.

The most common approach is to ride the ropeway up to the mid-slope and start hiking from there. To reach the ropeway area, take a bus either from Jōmō-Kōgen Station (Shinkansen) or from Minakami Station (JR local).

Ropeway hours
April-November
Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

December-March
All day: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It’s about a 20-minute walk from Doai Station to the ropeway area, but note the famously long staircase between platform and ticket gate.

last updated : 2025/08/09

How to get to the trailhead

1. [Outward] Jōmō-Kōgen Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)
2. [Outward] Minakami Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)
3. [Outward] Doai Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)
4. [Return] Tanigawadake JOCH → Jōmō-Kōgen Sta.
5. [Return] Tanigawadake JOCH → Minakami Sta.
6. [Return] Tanigawadake JOCH → Doai Sta.

English Map of Mt.Tanigawa-dake

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Reference Course Time (4 hours 45 minutes)

1. [Outward] Jōmō-Kōgen Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)

From Jōmō-Kōgen Station (Bus Stop #1), take the Kan-etsu Kōtsū bus bound for “Minakami Sta. / Tanigawadake JOCH”.
Approx. 45 minutes.

TimetableJōmō-Kōgen Sta. to Tanigawa-dake Ropeway

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Down / to JOCH” PDF (rev. 2024-12-01)、
NAVITIME (Jōmō-Kōgen → JOCH)

2. [Outward] Minakami Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)

From Minakami Station (Bus Stop #3), board the bus for “Tanigawadake JOCH”
Approx. 20 minutes.

TimetableMizukami Sta. to Tanigawadake Ropeway Sta.

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Down / to JOCH” PDF、
NAVITIME (Minakami → JOCH)

3. [Outward] Doai Sta. → Tanigawadake JOCH (Ropeway)

It is a 20-minute walk from Doai Station to The Tanigawadake Ropeway.
All the buses from Jōmō-Kōgen and Minakami stations stop at Doi station, but it's a long way from the platform to the ticket gate, so unless you have a special reason, we recommend you to take the bus from Minakami station.

Reference : As if it were an underground fortress, "Japan's best mole station" Joetsu Line, Doai Station

TimetableDoai Sta. to Tanigawadake Ropeway Sta.

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Down / to JOCH” PDF、
NAVITIME (Doai → JOCH)

4. [Return] Tanigawadake JOCH → Jōmō-Kōgen Sta.

Ride time: 50 minutes

TimetableTanigawadake Ropeway Sta. to Jōmō-Kōgen Sta.

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Up / to Jōmō-Kōgen & Minakami” PDF (rev. 2024-12-01)、
NAVITIME (JOCH → Jōmō-Kōgen)

5. [Return] Tanigawadake Ropeway Sta. to Minakami Sta.

Ride time: 23 minutes

TimetableTanigawadake Ropeway Sta. to Minakami Sta.

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Up / to Jōmō-Kōgen & Minakami” PDF、
NAVITIME (JOCH → Minakami)

6. [Return] Tanigawadake JOCH → Doai Sta.

It is about a 20-minute walk from Ropeway Station.
3 minutes to get on the bus

TimetableTanigawadake Ropeway to Doai Sta.

Sources:
Kan-etsu Kōtsū “Up / to Jōmō-Kōgen & Minakami” PDF、
NAVITIME (JOCH → Doai)