Mt. Hodosan

Mt. Hodosan (宝登山, 497 m) is a mountain in Nagatoro, Saitama Prefecture, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kantō. It is a sacred peak holding Hodosan Shrine at its foot and the shrine’s inner sanctuary near the summit, and is famous for its wintersweet (rōbai) garden and plum garden that bloom from January to February, as well as summit views of Mt. Bukō and Mt. Ryōkami. It is reached on foot from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, or in about 5 minutes by the Hodosan Ropeway. Despite its low elevation it offers flowers, views and the Nagatoro Alps ridge traverse, making it a year-round favourite.
The nearest station is Nagatoro Station (Chichibu Railway); the trailhead (Hodosan Shrine / ropeway base station) is about a 15-minute walk away.

Mt. Hodosan is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kantō. Everything is within walking distance of Nagatoro Station: about 1 hour 40 minutes from Ikebukuro via a Seibu limited express and the Chichibu Railway, or about 50 minutes from JR Kumagaya Station on the Chichibu Railway. There are two ways to the summit: the omotesandō trail (on foot) and the Hodosan Ropeway.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Nagatoro Station → Hodosan summit (omotesandō trail / ropeway)
2. [Traverse] Hodosan → Nagatoro Alps → Nogami Station (for fit hikers)
3. [Return] Descent → Nagatoro / Nogami Station
4. Recommended plans & area info

1. [Outbound] Nagatoro Station → Hodosan summit (omotesandō trail / ropeway)

From Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway, walk west along the prefectural road past the great torii and main hall of Hodosan Shrine to the ropeway base station, about a 15-minute walk — this is the trailhead.
On foot, the omotesandō trail (a mix of paved forest road and mountain path beside the approach) reaches the summit in about 60 minutes. The elevation gain is about 350 m and the route is beginner-friendly with no hazardous sections. Just below the summit are the shrine’s inner sanctuary, the wintersweet garden and the plum garden.

Reference: Nagatoro Tourism Association — Hodosan Ropeway

2. [Traverse] Hodosan → Nagatoro Alps → Nogami Station (for fit hikers)

The Nagatoro Alps traverse running north from the summit is a popular ridge route down to Nogami Station (the next stop from Nagatoro). The route Hodosan summit → Kotori Pass → Hi-ike junction → Manpuku-ji → Nogami Station is about 8.3 km and roughly 3 hours 50 minutes of walking. Climb from Nagatoro Station, cross Hodosan and descend to Nogami Station, then return to Nagatoro on the same Chichibu Railway. The route is well signposted with few hazards, but it can be slippery under fallen leaves, so trekking shoes are recommended.

Reference: Nagatoro Tourism Association — Access

3. [Return] Descent → Nagatoro / Nogami Station

If you go up and down the omotesandō trail, descend to the ropeway base station and walk about 15 minutes back to Nagatoro Station. Using the ropeway down takes about 5 minutes from the summit station to the base (last car 17:00, seasonal variation). If you traverse the Nagatoro Alps, descend to Nogami Station and take the Chichibu Railway toward Nagatoro / Kumagaya. Trains on the Chichibu Railway are infrequent, so check departure times in advance to match your descent.

Reference: Chichibu Railway — Nagatoro Access

4. Recommended plans & area info

Sightseeing / beginner plan: Nagatoro Station → 15-min walk → ropeway to the summit → stroll the wintersweet garden and inner sanctuary → ropeway down → Nagatoro Station (half a day, little walking). Ideal for flower season and families.
Hiking plan: Nagatoro Station → omotesandō trail to the summit → Nagatoro Alps traverse → Nogami Station (about 4 hours). A satisfying ridge walk despite the low elevation.

Featured image: Tmv / CC BY-SA 4.0