Mt. Teruishi

100 Mountains of Tochigi

🚃 Reachable by public transport

—

Staminan/a

Technicaln/a

Trail time n/aDistance n/aTotal ascent n/a

Access ease Moderate Seasonal access

Gateway station Shin-Ohirashita Station → Trailhead Shin-Ohirashita Station

1 public-transport routes

🔍 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. Teruishi (晃石山, 419m) is a low peak in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, popular for a mini-traverse with the adjoining Mt. Ohira (太平山, 341m). It is known for sweeping views over the Kanto Plain, cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage, and Mt. Ohira’s famous “Three Delicacies” — yakitori, rolled omelet, and dango. The trailhead is reached directly on foot from JR Ryomo Line Oohirashita Station or Tobu Nikko Line Shin-Oohirashita Station — well suited to beginners and families.

🥾 Walk from the station, standard course 5 hours, climbable year-round: The classic traverse — Shin-Oohirashita Station (or Oohirashita Station) → Kenshin-daira → Mt. Ohira → Mt. Teruishi → Sakura-toge → Mt. Umairazu → Mt. Iwafune → Shin-Oohirashita Station — runs about 5 hours (no bus needed). At Mt. Ohira Shrine (Kenshin-daira) several teahouses serve the “Mt. Ohira Three Delicacies” (yakitori, rolled omelet, dango), perfect for a rest stop. Snow is rare even in winter, so climbing is possible year-round.

*Timetable last checked: May 17, 2026

How to access the trailheads

[Outbound] Shin-Oohirashita Station / Oohirashita Station → Mt. Ohira Shrine (on foot)
[Return] Mt. Iwafune / Mt. Umairazu → Shin-Oohirashita Station / Oohirashita Station (on foot)

Estimated Trail Time (Mt. Ohira – Mt. Teruishi – Mt. Umairazu traverse, beginner, about 5 hours)

Shin-Oohirashita Station → (30 min) → Kenshin-daira (Mt. Ohira Shrine) → (30 min) → Mt. Ohira (341m) → (50 min) → Mt. Teruishi (419m) → (40 min) → Sakura-toge → (40 min) → Mt. Umairazu (345m) → (1 hr) → Mt. Iwafune → (50 min) → Shin-Oohirashita Station

1. [Outbound] Shin-Oohirashita Station / Oohirashita Station → Mt. Ohira Shrine (on foot)

Start climbing from Shin-Oohirashita Station or Oohirashita Station; the climb to Mt. Ohira Shrine takes about 30 minutes on foot. The classic route is via Ajisai-zaka (1,000 steps) — especially scenic during the hydrangea season in June. At Kenshin-daira by the shrine entrance there are many teahouses; this is the legendary spot where Uesugi Kenshin gazed over the Kanto Plain. Bus access via the “Mt. Ohira Shrine Iriguchi” stop (Tochigi City Fureai Bus) exists but service is very limited (weekdays only, a few trains/day) — walking is recommended.

Access reference:
Shin-Oohirashita Station → Mt. Ohira Shrine (Kenshin-daira): about 30 minutes on foot (about 1.5km, via Ajisai-zaka)
Oohirashita Station → Mt. Ohira Shrine (Kenshin-daira): about 35 minutes on foot (via Shin-Oohirashita Station)
※ Bus: Tochigi City Fureai Bus “Mt. Ohira Shrine Iriguchi” (weekdays only, no service on Sat/Sun/holidays or year-end/New Year), very limited service, not suited to climbing.

Kenshin-daira / Mt. Ohira Shrine information:
Elevation about 215m (Kenshin-daira observation point)
Teahouse hours: morning – evening (varies by shop, crowded on weekends/holidays)
Mt. Ohira Three Delicacies: yakitori, rolled omelet, dango (also wild-plant dishes and soba)
Ajisai-zaka: hydrangea bloom in June, about 2,500 plants

Reference: Tochigi City Tourist Association | Mt. Ohira Shrine
Inquiries: Tochigi City Tourist Association ☎0282-25-2356 / Mt. Ohira Shrine ☎0282-22-0227

2. [Return] Mt. Iwafune / Mt. Umairazu → Shin-Oohirashita Station / Oohirashita Station (on foot)

The descent passes via Mt. Umairazu (345m) and over Mt. Iwafune (172m) on foot to Shin-Oohirashita Station or Iwafune Station (JR Ryomo Line, one stop from Shin-Oohirashita). Mt. Iwafune is a historic sacred site of “Iwafune Jizoson — Koshoji“; the final descent goes down a stone staircase. Alternatively, return out-and-back via Mt. Ohira Shrine (about 4.5 hours).

Descent-route reference:
Mt. Umairazu → Mt. Iwafune → Shin-Oohirashita Station: about 1 hour 50 minutes on foot (standard traverse)
Mt. Umairazu → Mt. Iwafune → Iwafune Station (JR Ryomo Line, one stop from Shin-Oohirashita): about 1 hour 30 minutes on foot
Out-and-back (via Mt. Ohira Shrine): about 1 hour 20 minutes on foot

Post-descent hot springs:
Several hot-spring facilities are within Tochigi City. Near the stations: “Asaya Hotel Mt. Ohira Onsen (Kinchakuyama)” (day-use bathing from ¥800) and “Ohira-no-Yu” (from ¥600). Near Iwafune Station the day-use options are limited.

Reference: Mt. Iwafune Koshoji | Tochigi City Tourist Association
Inquiries: Tochigi City Tourist Association ☎0282-25-2356 / Koshoji ☎0282-55-8419

3. Mt. Teruishi — climbing overview, routes, recommended plans, emergency contacts

About Mt. Teruishi
A 419m low peak in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, forming the Ohira Range together with the adjacent Mt. Ohira (341m). Selected for the 100 Famous Mountains of Kanto (per previous audit revision, this is the only such designation — also #91 in the 100 Famous Mountains of Tochigi). The summit is in forested cover with limited views, but distant panoramas of the Kanto Plain, the Nikko range, and Mt. Fuji can be enjoyed from various spots along the Mt. Ohira – Mt. Umairazu ridge. Access is excellent — close to stations on both the JR and Tobu lines — and it is a classic course for beginners and families.

Trail overview (3 main routes)

Mt. Ohira – Mt. Teruishi – Mt. Umairazu traverse (beginner, about 5 hours, most popular): Shin-Oohirashita Station → Mt. Ohira Shrine → Mt. Ohira → Mt. Teruishi → Sakura-toge → Mt. Umairazu → Mt. Iwafune → Shin-Oohirashita Station.
Mt. Ohira – Mt. Teruishi out-and-back (beginner, about 4.5 hours): shortened version, for beginners.
Mt. Teruishi alone (beginner, about 3 hours): a quick climb to the summit from the Sakura-toge Trailhead, for those arriving by car.

Climbing season and seasonal information: Year-round climbing is possible; June hydrangeas (Ajisai-zaka), spring cherry blossoms, and autumn foliage are the best seasons. Snow is rare even in winter, and the views over the Kanto Plain are excellent. In high summer this low mountain becomes humid; an early-morning start is recommended.

Mt. Ohira Three Delicacies (Kenshin-daira teahouses): Yakitori, rolled omelet, dango (offered at each teahouse, typically ¥300–800); wild-plant soba is also popular. The observation point that Uesugi Kenshin praised as “never wearying of the view over the Kanto Plain.”

Cautions
– Mt. Ohira Shrine Iriguchi bus: weekdays only, very limited service; walking is recommended for climbing
– Ajisai-zaka stone staircase: 1,000 steps, slippery in rain
– Heat stroke is a risk even on a low mountain in summer: early-morning start recommended, carry plenty of water
– Post-descent teahouse hours: most close around 16:00–17:00 — stop in early

Emergency and inquiry contacts

Tochigi City Tourist Association: ☎0282-25-2356 / Mt. Ohira Shrine: ☎0282-22-0227
Tochigi Police Station (climbing plan / rescue): ☎0282-25-0110
Tobu Railway Customer Center: ☎03-5962-0102 / JR East: ☎050-2016-1600

Recommended plans

Day-hike traverse course (recommended, beginner-friendly): Asakusa Station 7:30 → Shin-Oohirashita Station 9:00 → Mt. Ohira Shrine 9:30 → Mt. Ohira 10:00 → Mt. Teruishi 10:50 → Sakura-toge → Mt. Umairazu 12:30 → teahouse rest (Kenshin-daira) → Mt. Iwafune 14:00 → Shin-Oohirashita Station 14:50 → Asakusa Station 16:20.
Hydrangea-season (June) day-hike: focused on Ajisai-zaka (1,000-step hydrangea staircase), a shortened out-and-back to Mt. Ohira Shrine (about 3 hours), suitable for beginners and families.

Reference: Tochigi City Tourist Association — Hiking Map (PDF) | Mt. Ohira Shrine Official