Mount Otakine (Otakineyama, 1,192 m) sits on the border of Tamura City and Kawauchi Village in Fukushima Prefecture, and is one of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains.
The highest peak of the Abukuma Highlands, its appeal lies in the Onaana cave and Mineryō Shrine on the mountain, combined with the limestone caverns of Abukuma-dō and Irimizu Shōnyūdō at its foot. The usual intermediate day hike goes from Sendaidaira up to the summit area and back.
For public-transport access, take a taxi from Kanmata Station on the JR Ban’etsu-East Line to the Sendaidaira trailhead.
The trailhead is Sendaidaira (Onaana), with parking, toilets and Abukuma-dō cave nearby. The main route is Sendaidaira trailhead → Kashikone → Mineryō Shrine → Mount Otakine and back, an intermediate route with a standard time of about 3–4 hours. The summit itself (a first-order triangulation point) is inside the JASDF Otakineyama sub-base, so entry requires advance application, and ordinary hikers aim for the summit area at Mineryō Shrine / Kashikone.
The best season is spring to autumn (April–November); there is snow and ice in winter. Always check the latest trail conditions, taxi arrangements and summit-area access before you go.
*Last checked: June 6, 2026
How to access the trailheads
1. [There & Back] Kanmata Station ⇄ Sendaidaira trailhead (taxi)
Kanmata Station on the JR Ban’etsu-East Line is your base. As there is no scheduled bus toward Sendaidaira and Abukuma-dō, take a taxi from the station to the trailhead.
① Kanmata Station → Sendaidaira / Abukuma-dō (taxi)
It is about 10 minutes by taxi from Kanmata Station to Sendaidaira (Abukuma-dō), and the Sendaidaira trailhead is right by Abukuma-dō.
— Haba Taxi (Abukuma-dō office) 0247-78-3167
② Tamura Rakuraku Taxi (shared)
From Kanmata Station to Abukuma-dō you can also use the reservation-based shared “Tamura Rakuraku Taxi” for 300 yen each way. As it is reservation-only, confirm on your travel day.
③ Return: descend by the same route to Sendaidaira. It is reassuring to book a taxi for your expected descent time.
④ About the summit: the highest point, a first-order triangulation point, is inside a JASDF sub-base. Reaching the triangulation point requires advance application to the base, so ordinary hikes finish at Mineryō Shrine. Do not approach the base facilities.
By car: there is parking at Sendaidaira and Abukuma-dō. It is about 15 minutes from the Ono IC on the Ban’etsu Expressway.
References: [Abukuma-dō access] ／ [Fukushima Travel: Mount Otakine]
Trail Guide and Safety Notes
Route: Sendaidaira trailhead → Kashikone → Mineryō Shrine (the summit area of Mount Otakine) and back. The standard time is about 3–4 hours, an intermediate route. There are also routes from the Ōgoe and Irishinden trailheads and from Mount Takatsuka. Rocky and chained sections are scattered along the way.
Summit area and access: as noted, the highest triangulation point is inside an SDF base, and the general turnaround is at Mineryō Shrine in front of the fence. Do not approach the base facilities.
Views and caves: the summit area gives views over the Abukuma Highlands toward the Pacific. Combined with the Abukuma-dō and Irimizu limestone caves at the foot, it makes a full day. There is snow and ice in winter.
Equipment and emergencies: carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS and plenty of food. In an accident or emergency call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/ambulance).
・Tamura Police Station 0247-62-0110
Photo by M Murakami / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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