Mt. Hachigamine

Mt. Hachigamine (Hachigamine, 800 m) rises on the border of Ōi Town in Fukui Prefecture and Nantan City in Kyoto Prefecture, and is one of the 100 Mountains of Kansai.
Its name is said to come from the eight provinces once visible from the summit — Tanba, Tango, Yamashiro, Ōmi, Wakasa, Echizen, Kaga and Noto — and the ridge at the western edge of the Ashiu forest is clad in natural beech woods, chosen among the 100 Forests for Forest Bathing and the 100 Water-source Forests. The main Gonamine Pass route follows the border ridge from the pass and takes about 3 hours round trip, lovely with fresh green and autumn colour in the beech forest. It is also counted among the “Five Mountains of Miyama” in Kyoto’s Miyama.
Public transport to the trailhead is scarce, so access it by taxi from JR Obama Station or by private car.

Besides the Gonamine Pass route along the border ridge, Mt. Hachigamine can be climbed from Someyatani (the Hachigamine Family Travel Village) on the Fukui side, or via Shiisaka from Hachihara on the Kyoto side. This article focuses on the Gonamine Pass route, the most popular and loveliest for its beech forest. The season is from the fresh green of May to the autumn colour of November; the snow season is not suitable for general hikers.

*Information last checked: June 15, 2026

Getting to the trailhead

1. [Outbound & Return] JR Obama Station → Gonamine Pass / Someyatani (Mt. Hachigamine trailhead)

1. [Outbound & Return] JR Obama Station → Gonamine Pass / Someyatani (Mt. Hachigamine trailhead)

There is no regular bus running directly to the trailheads (Gonamine Pass or Someyatani). From Obama Station on the JR Obama Line, reach Gonamine Pass or Someyatani by taxi in about 35 minutes (27 km), or by private car. The forest road up to Gonamine Pass is rough, with falling rocks and fallen trees, so take care with low-clearance cars.
By car it is about 40 minutes from the Obama IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway, or about 50 minutes from the Ōi-Takahama IC. The Hachigamine Family Travel Village at Someyatani has parking (about 30 spaces). There is a bus from Obama Station towards Natasho, but it is far from the trailhead and means a walk of about 50 minutes or more, so for hiking a taxi or private car is realistic. From the Kyoto side you can also use the Shiisaka route from Miyama (Nantan City), where Miyama’s nature culture village runs guided tours. Booking the return taxi to match your descent time is wise.

Reference: [Ōi Town Tourism Association (Hachigamine Family Travel Village)] / [Miyama Navi (Miyama, Nantan City)]

Climbing routes and trail times

Route 1: Gonamine Pass route (main, about 3 hours round trip)
Gonamine Pass trailhead (about 500 m) → beech forest on the border ridge → summit of Mt. Hachigamine (800 m). About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours one way, roughly 3 hours round trip, about 5.8 km with around 530 m of cumulative climb. Natural beech forest spreads out right from the trailhead, and the ridge repeats small ups and downs. From the summit you look out to the mountains of Wakasa and the Sea of Japan. Some sections have faint paths and few signs, so carry a map and compass (GPS).

Route 2: Someyatani and Shiisaka routes
There are also routes to the summit from Someyatani (the Hachigamine Family Travel Village) on the Fukui side, and via Shiisaka from Hachihara on the Kyoto side. Both can be combined with the Gonamine Pass route for a traverse or loop, but the distance increases and they are for fitter hikers. If you leave a car at the descent point, you will need to arrange the shuttle.

Bases and lodging

Hachigamine Family Travel Village (Someyatani, Natasho, Ōi Town): a campsite next to the Someyatani trailhead with old farmhouses, bungalows, cottages and tent sites, a base for the night before or after the climb. Check opening periods and booking on the official website or by phone.

There are no mountain huts or water sources on the trail. Mt. Hachigamine is a day trip with no staffed huts or clear water sources on the ridge, so carry the water and food you need. Use the toilet at the travel village beforehand.

Around Obama and Miyama: on the Fukui side, lodgings in Obama, and on the Kyoto side, lodgings around the Miyama thatched-roof village, serve as bases for the night before and for sightseeing.

Hazards, gear and best season

Difficulty: the Gonamine Pass route is intermediate, with no chains or difficult sections, but the ridge has faint paths and few signs, so beware of losing the way. Always carry a map and GPS.

Forest-road access: the forest road up to Gonamine Pass is unpaved and rough, with falling rocks and fallen trees, so take care with low-clearance cars. It can be closed, so check in advance.

Leeches, insects and bears: in early summer (around June) there are land leeches and many insects, so take salt or repellent. The beech forest is also bear country, so carry a bell or radio.

Season and gear: the season is from the fresh green of May to the autumn colour of November (the beech forest is lovely). The snow season is not suitable for general hikers. Carry rain gear, warm layers, a headlamp and plenty of water and food, and file a climbing plan.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire and rescue).
– Obama Police Station 0770-52-0110