Mt. Ozakusan

Mt. Ozakusan (石裂山, 879.5 m) is a mountain in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kantō. A sacred peak revered as the deity body of the ancient Kasoyama Shrine, it is known — despite its modest height — for a varied rocky ridge course with continuous ladders and chains. Steep chained sections such as the “Gyōja-gaeshi rock” just before the Oku-no-miya continue one after another, and falls have occurred, so careful movement is essential.
The nearest station is Shin-Kanuma on the Tōbu Nikkō Line; take the Ri-Bus (Kanuma community bus) to the terminus “Ozakusan” (Kasoyama Shrine).

Mt. Ozakusan is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kantō (and one of the New 100 Flower Mountains of Japan). From Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tōbu Nikkō Line, take the Ri-Bus Kamikuga Line to the terminus “Ozakusan”; from Kasoyama Shrine the classic loop goes via the Oku-no-miya, East and West Ken-no-mine to the summit, then around Mt. Gassan back to the shrine — about 4 hours in all. There are only two buses a day, so be sure to check the times.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Shin-Kanuma Station → Ozakusan (Kasoyama Shrine) → Oku-no-miya → summit
2. [Return] Ozakusan → Mt. Gassan → Kasoyama Shrine → Shin-Kanuma Station
3. Recommended plans & area info

1. [Outbound] Shin-Kanuma Station → Ozakusan (Kasoyama Shrine) → Oku-no-miya → summit

From the bus stop at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tōbu Nikkō Line, take the Ri-Bus Kamikuga Line to the terminus Ozakusan (in front of Kasoyama Shrine). File your climbing plan at the shrine and go via Senbon-katsura and the Naka-no-miya to the Oku-no-miya. Just before it, the “Gyōja-gaeshi rock” is the longest chained section on the course. Climb the ladders and chains of East and West Ken-no-mine to the summit — about 2 hours 20 minutes from Kasoyama Shrine. Narrow ridges and steep ladders come one after another, so climb carefully with three points of contact.

Ride time: about 32 minutes

Bus TimetableShin-Kanuma Station → Ozakusan

Reference: Kanuma City — Ri-Bus timetables

2. [Return] Ozakusan → Mt. Gassan → Kasoyama Shrine → Shin-Kanuma Station

The classic loop continues from the summit over Mt. Gassan, the high point to the north, then descends through forest back to Kasoyama Shrine (about 1 hour 40 minutes from Ozakusan to the shrine). From the “Ozakusan” bus stop in front of the shrine, take the Ri-Bus back to Shin-Kanuma Station. With only two buses a day, the basic plan is to enter on the morning service and return on the afternoon one. There are no shops on the mountain, so prepare food and water near Shin-Kanuma Station.

Ride time: about 32 minutes

Bus TimetableOzakusan → Shin-Kanuma Station

Reference: Kanuma City — Ri-Bus timetables

3. Recommended plans & area info

Loop plan: Kasoyama Shrine → Oku-no-miya → East Ken-no-mine → West Ken-no-mine → Ozakusan → Mt. Gassan → Kasoyama Shrine (about 4 hours). The basic plan is to arrive on the morning bus and return on the afternoon one after descending.
Note: this is an advanced course with continuous chains and ladders, usually walked counterclockwise (Oku-no-miya → summit → Gassan). By car, you can use the Kasoyama Shrine parking lot.

Photo by Koda6029 / CC BY-SA 4.0