Mt. Chōrōgatake

Mt. Chōrōgatake (Chōrōgatake, 917 m) in Kyōtanba Town, Kyoto Prefecture, is a peak of the Tanba Highland and the highest mountain in the Tanba area. It is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai and is also called “Chōrō-san” or “Mt. Chōrō”.
From the summit there is a wide view of the Tanba mountains, and as far as the Sea of Japan on a clear day. The area is rich in mountain flora, with rhododendron and iwakagami in April and May, and from Hodosu on the north side of the summit it is about 2 hours up to the top. There is public-transport access by the Kyōtanba Town bus from Wachi Station on the JR San’in Main Line to Hodosu.

The trailhead is the village of Hodosu on the north side of the summit, from where a well-maintained path climbs to the summit of Mt. Chōrōgatake (about 2 hours up and 1 hour 30 minutes down).
It once flourished as a sacred mountain of esoteric Buddhism, and its name derives from that history. The best season is spring to autumn, with the flower season of April–May being especially beautiful; in winter there is snow. A forest road runs almost to near the summit, and there is also a route from Shimo-Otomi on the southwest side, but this article describes the Hodosu course, which is easy to reach from Wachi Station.

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1. [Outbound] Wachi Station → Hodosu (Mt. Chōrōgatake trailhead)
2. [Return] Hodosu → Wachi Station

1. [Outbound] Wachi Station → Hodosu (Mt. Chōrōgatake trailhead)

For the trailhead at Hodosu, take the Kyōtanba Town bus (Line W41, Hodosu Line) from Wachi Station on the JR San’in Main Line, about 24 minutes, and get off at the terminus, Hodosu. The Hodosu Line runs mainly on weekdays; it does not run at all on Sundays and holidays, and some services do not run on Saturdays, so always check the operating days and times with Kyōtanba Town. From the Hodosu trailhead it is about 2 hours up to the summit of Mt. Chōrōgatake; Wachi Station is reached on the JR San’in Main Line from Sonobe and Fukuchiyama.

Bus (outbound, weekdays): Wachi Station → Hodosu (Kyōtanba Town bus, Line W41 Hodosu Line)

Reference: [Kyōtanba Town — Mt. Chōrōgatake]

2. [Return] Hodosu → Wachi Station

After descending, take the Kyōtanba Town bus (Line W41 Hodosu Line) from Hodosu back to Wachi Station. On weekdays the 12:48 and 15:48 departures from Hodosu are convenient, so descend with time to spare to match the bus.

Bus (return, weekdays): Hodosu → Wachi Station (Kyōtanba Town bus, Line W41 Hodosu Line)

Reference: [Kyōtanba Town — Mt. Chōrōgatake]

Photo by As6022014