100 Famous Shinshu Mountains
The Shinshū 100 Famous Mountains were selected by Eiichi Shimizu as the defining peaks of Nagano Prefecture (historically known as Shinshū). The list draws heavily from the Northern Alps (Hida Mountains), the Yatsugatake, and the Central Alps — the backbone ranges of a prefecture that is, by any measure, the heart of Japanese mountain culture.
This page covers the 60 peaks on the list that can be reached without a private car. Most trailheads are served by bus from the nearest train station; for those that aren't, a shared taxi or regular taxi will get you there. Featured peaks include Kirigamine, Mt. Aka, Mt. Akaishi and Mt. Amakazari. Each guide spells out the exact route from the station to the trailhead — bus and taxi timetables, fares, and frequencies verified against official schedules. Use the map and list below to compare access ease and fitness demand, whether you're planning a day hike or a multi-day traverse with an overnight stay beforehand.
100 Famous Shinshu Mountains
Compare by the numbers
A high peak reached by a grassy ridge walk from the Ōdarumi Pass, welcoming arrivals with a sweeping panorama from Fuji to the southern Alps.
A table-top mountain shaped like an upturned ship, dominated by the 200-meter cliff face of Tomosohiwa.
A sacred mountain steeped in Amaterasu legend at the southern tip of the Central Alps, with views north and south to distant ranges.
A mountain whose broad high alpine wetland and countless bog pools are hailed as a sky-high paradise, magical for summer flowers and autumn grass.
A perfectly symmetrical pyramid famed throughout the Alps, with a full panorama of Yarigatake and the Hotaka massif from the summit.
A demanding peak deep in the Akiyamago valley, treasured for quiet views of Naebasan and the Tanigawa range.
The southernmost of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, a remote peak where the white limestone Hikari-iwa glows at sunset in the deep southern Alps.
A gently grassy summit offering a sweeping view of Enadake, the Central Alps, and the southern Alps.
A summit meadow with a 360-degree panorama taking in the northern Alps, Lake Suwa, Yatsugatake, and Fuji all at once.
A sacred pass mountain where the dramatic blue Aogare landslide looms close, with quiet views deep into the southern-Alps backcountry.
A steep climb up timber ladders and stairs ends in a view from the Marishiten lookout through ancient Hinoki forest.