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Mt. Ishizuchi

1,982m · Ehime

Timetable checked 2026/05/19
Mt. Ishizuchi1,982 mEhime
100 Mountains of Flowers100 Famous MountainsNew 100 Mountains of FlowersNew 100 Famous Mountains
🚃 Reachable by public transport · Day trip · Beginner · fine for beginners
Access ease Moderate First bus reaches trailhead by 8:48, 1 transfer(s)
Gateway station Iyo-Saijō Station  →  Trailhead Joju Station
1 public-transport routes ・ Station→trailhead approx. 81 min
Beginner
Stamina3/10 (Official 2–5)
TechnicalB some steep climbs 〜 C Official
Trail time 6h 16mestimated
More figures and data sources
Distance 9.66 kmmeasuredTotal ascent ↑1,065 mmeasuredHighest point 1,972 m
📍 Figures for the recommended route “成就駅→成就社→弥山→天狗岳”
🌸 Best season: May, Nov bk
🔍 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. Ishizuchi (石鎚山, 1,982 m at Mt. Tenguzaka) rises across Saijo City and Kumakōgen Town in Ehime Prefecture and is counted among the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan — the highest peak in western Japan. Long revered as a Shugendō sacred mountain, its highlights include Chōjōsha (Ishizuchi Shrine summit hall) just below the top, the dramatic cliff peaks of Tengu-dake and Misen (1,974 m), and the four famous chain-climbing sections (Tameshi-no-kusari, Ichi-no-kusari, Ni-no-kusari, San-no-kusari). The chain sections all have bypass trails so even beginners can summit. On clear days the panorama spans the Seto Inland Sea, all of Shikoku, and as far as Kyushu.

From JR Yosan Line Iyo-Saijo Station, Setouchi Bus’s “Nishi-no-kawa Line” reaches Ropeway-mae, where the Ishizuchi Climbing Ropeway lifts hikers to Jōju Station at 1,300 m — the start of the Omote-Sandō (front trail) via Jōju Shrine.

*Timetable last checked: May 19, 2026

How to access the trailhead

  1. [Outbound] Iyo-Saijo Station → Jōju Station (Setouchi Bus + Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway connection)
  2. [Return] Jōju Station → Iyo-Saijo Station (Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway + Setouchi Bus connection)

Hiking Course Details — Mt. Ishizuchi

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Map & Recommended Route — Mt. Ishizuchi

Watch the 3D flythrough — fly along the Mt. Ishizuchi trail over 3D terrain, with color-coded gradients and course times at a glance.

Mt. Ishizuchi — Reference Hiking Times

Standard pace; times rounded to 5 min
Segment Distance Ascent/Descent Out Back
Joju Station → Ishizuchi Shrine 0.8 km +127 m / −7 m 0:25 0:25
Ishizuchi Shrine → Hatchozaka Slope 0.4 km +6 m / −49 m 0:10 0:10
Hatchozaka Slope → Maeshimori 1.6 km +286 m / −94 m 1:00 1:05
Maeshimori → 4097 Tsurugisan 0.2 km +67 m / −0 m 0:10 0:10
4097 Tsurugisan → Yoake Pass 0.3 km +46 m / −13 m 0:10 0:10
Yoake Pass → Mt. Ishizuchi Public Toilet Rest Area 0.7 km +151 m / −0 m 0:30 0:25
Mt. Ishizuchi Public Toilet Rest Area → Ishizuchi Shrine Chojo Sanso Hut 0.5 km +153 m / −0 m 0:25 0:30
Ishizuchi Shrine Chojo Sanso Hut → Mount Tengu 0.3 km +20 m / −9 m 0:10 0:05
Mount Tengu → South Peak 0.1 km +21 m / −16 m 0:05 0:05
Round trip 9.7 km +1064 m / −1064 m 6:30

📥 Download GPX (reference route)

1. [Outbound] Iyo-Saijo Station → Jōju Station (Setouchi Bus + Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway, connection)

From JR Yosan Line Iyo-Saijo Station, board Setouchi Bus’s “Nishi-no-kawa Line” (bound for Nishi-no-kawa) and alight at Ropeway-mae. Travel time approx. 1 h 21 min. From the bus stop it’s a 5-minute walk to the Ishizuchi Climbing Ropeway’s Sanroku Shimotani Station.

Operating period: Year-round
Travel time: approx. 1 h 21 min (Iyo-Saijo Stn → Ropeway-mae)
Fare: Iyo-Saijo Stn → Ropeway-mae adult one-way ¥1,030
Note: Only 4 trips per day — confirm the schedule in advance, especially the last bus.

Reference: Setouchi Bus (official)

Connection TimetableIyo-Saijo Station → Ropeway-mae → Jōju Station (Bus + 5 min walk + Ropeway)

Daily (4 trips/day) — Bus 1h21min, walk ~5 min, ropeway 8 min. Ropeway departs at :00/:20/:40 each hour (first run 8:40 / peak season 8:00); last run varies by season — verify with Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway official or TEL 0897-59-0331
Iyo-Saijo Stn dep. Ropeway-mae arr. Ropeway dep. Jōju Stn arr.
7:10 8:31 8:40 (first) 8:48
10:00 11:21 11:40 11:48
13:10 14:31 14:40 14:48
15:50 17:11 17:20 17:28

Reference: [NAVITIME Setouchi Bus Nishi-no-kawa Line]

2. [Return] Jōju Station → Iyo-Saijo Station (Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway + Setouchi Bus, connection)

After descending, take the ropeway back to Sanroku Shimotani Station, then walk 5 minutes to the Ropeway-mae bus stop and board the Setouchi Bus back to Iyo-Saijo Station. The 4 return trips take only 54 minutes (faster downhill).

Operating period: Year-round
Travel time: approx. 54 min (Ropeway-mae → Iyo-Saijo Stn)
Fare: Ropeway-mae → Iyo-Saijo Stn adult one-way ¥1,030

Connection TimetableJōju Station → Ropeway-mae → Iyo-Saijo Station (Ropeway + 5 min walk + Bus)

Daily (4 trips/day) — Ropeway 8 min, walk ~5 min, bus 54 min. Ropeway departs at :00/:20/:40 each hour; next bus departs ~5 min after Sanroku arrival
Jōju Stn dep. Sanroku Shimotani arr. Ropeway-mae bus dep. Iyo-Saijo Stn arr.
9:20 9:28 9:33 10:27
12:00 12:08 12:23 13:17
15:00 15:08 15:26 16:20
17:00 17:08 17:20 18:14

Reference: [NAVITIME Setouchi Bus Nishi-no-kawa Line (return)]

Photo by HendrixEesti

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