Japan's Top 100 Mountains
The 5 easiest hikes to get you started!
What are the top 100 mountains?
Japan’s top 100 mountains (百名山) come from a book written in 1969 by the famous Japanese hiker Kyuya Fukada. Fukuda is said to have climbed hundreds of peaks and chosen his top 100 based on their grace, history, and individuality. Since then, hikers across Japan have made it their mission to hike all 100 in their lifetimes. People often list how many they have conquered on their Instagram profiles. Nearly all mountains on the top 100 list are over 1500m, which may be daunting to new hikers. There is no need to be intimidated though; the distance you actually need to hike on many of them is pretty low, especially if you use the ropeway! We have selected five mountains with routes that even complete beginners can walk. Just check out the low elevation gains (the amount you actually hike up) on these mammoth mountains below.
王ヶ頭, 美ヶ原
Ougatou - Utsukushigahara | Nagano
Ougato stands at a cool 2034m. It is famous for the Utsukushigahara Tower (pictured below) and has a popular hotel at the summit, which is perfect for watching the sunrise and sunset on the mountain in comfort. For hikers who are just starting out, or for those who want to experience mountain beauty without breaking too much of a sweat, this is the ideal mountain to get you started. Ougatou is pretty in the Summer when you can see lots of cows grazing in the area and fun in the winter. If you want to try out snowshoeing for the first time, the flat expanses make this a fantastic place to practice.
NB If you decide to take a trip in the colder seasons, buses will not be running. It is still possible to reach the summit by car or free shuttle bus if you stay at the hotel. See the access section below for more details.
Hiking Route
The hiking route is pretty flat, starting at the Utsukushigahara Kogen Car Park and ending at the Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum. If you have come by car, you may need to return the way you came, making your hike just over 4 hours. You could shorten the walk by turning back once you reach Utsukushigahara No Tou (美ヶ原の塔).
From the car park, follow signs up to Ougahana (王ヶ鼻). It will take roughly 30 minutes. It is a slight detour from Ougatou but well worth it for the views over the Northern Alps. After experiencing your “I’m on top of the world!” moment, head back and follow signs to Ougatou, which will take around 30 minutes. Ougatou is the top 100 mountain you have come to tick off your list, so make sure you get a photo of this monumental moment.
After ticking Ougatou off your 100 top mountain list, head down for another 30 minutes to 塩クレ場. In the warmer months, there will be a lot of cows in this area. If you are from the city, take time to admire the fascinating and magical creatures that give you yakiniku and purrin. From the farm area, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Utsukushinotou (美しの塔). Take a photo as this little tower symbolises Utsukushigahara and will likely earn you countless Instagram likes.
Next, head to Yamamotogoya Furusatokan (山本小屋ふる里館) and finally onto the Art Museum where you can take a bus back to Matsumoto Station.
Utsukushigahara Kogen Car Park ~ (30m) ~ Ougahana (王ヶ鼻) ~ (30m) ~ Ougatou (王ヶ頭) ~ (30m) ~ Shio Kure Place (塩クレ場) ~ (10m) ~ Utsukushi no Tou (美しの塔) ~ (15m) ~ Yamamoto hut (山本小屋ふる里館) ~ (20m) ~ Utsukushigahara Open-Air Art Museum (美ヶ原美術館)
Access
By Train: The nearest train station is Matsumoto Station on the JR Chuo Line. For those staying at Ougatou Hotel, there is a free shuttle bus from the Matsumoto Station.
If you aren't staying at the hotel, a taxi from the station to Utsukushigahara Car Park will cost around 1万 yen.
On the way back, Alpico Buses run from Utsukushigahara Art Museum to Matsumoto Station. The ride takes 1h 40m.
Alternatively, go in the oposite direction taking a bus from Matsumoto Station to Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum.
By Car (recommened): Leave the highway at the Matsumoto interchange in Summer or Winter seasons. In warmer seasons the Mountain is also accessible via the Okaya Interchange.
Helpful phone numbers
Matsumoto Taxi: 0263-331-141
Matsumoto City Tourist Information: 0263-322-814
Helpful Websites
Ougatou Hotel (English Website)
Utsukushigahara Kogen Tourism Website (Japanese) including route map and access information.
Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum (English Website)
Yamato Goya Furusatokan Website (Japanese)
Alpico Bus Utsukushigahara Plateau Guide (English Website)
蔵王山
Mount Zaō | Yamagata/Miyagi
Mount Zaō is technically a group of stratovolcanoes, including a small crater lake that seems to change colour with the weather. It sits between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. An area of fascinating beauty, hikers from all over Japan head there between May and mid-October. In the winter, Zaō turns into a popular ski resort revered for its soft powder snow, legendary onsen, and astounding "snow monsters", and by snow monsters, we mean trees so covered in snow that they look like yeti.
Hiking Route
Once you have arrived at the top ropeway station (Jizo Sancho Ropeway Station 地蔵山頂駅), take some time to check out the Zao Jizo san statue. The Jizo San has been guarding the souls of people who died on the mountain and current travellers to the mountain since 1775. If you wish to walk around the garden there, it will take around 20 minutes extra. When you finish, head back to the ropeway station and from there head towards Wasagoya (Wasa hut ワサ小屋跡). It will take around 25 minutes, and you will pass Mount Jizo (1736m) on the way. From there, hike up to Kumanodake. Kumanodake is 1841m, the highest point on the route. Take the Uma No Se route around the caldera; it will take around 40 minutes to walk around and back to Wasagoya. The Uma No Se route takes you around the Okama Crater Lake, otherwise known as Goshiki Numa - the five-coloured lake. It is impossible to go right up to the lake in the Summer seasons, so this is the closest you will get. Once back at the hut, head down another 40 minutes to Ironuma Swamp. The swamp area has wooden paths to walk along. From the swamp area, take the course down to the middle ropeway station and then take the ropeway back down to Zao Sanroku Station. Congratulations, you have bagged another Top 100 mountain! Celebrate with a relaxing dip at one of the famous onsen.
Jizo Sancho Ropeway Station (地蔵山頂駅) ~ (25m) ~ Wasa hut (ワサ小屋跡) ~ (20m) ~ kumanodake (熊野岳) ~ (20m) ~ Uma No Se (馬の背) ~ (40m) ~ Wasa hut (ワサ小屋跡) ~ (40m) ~ Irohanuma (いろは沼) ~ (20m) ~ Juhyo kogen Ropeway Station (樹氷高原駅)
Access
By Train: Take a shinkansen to Yamagata Station. Then take the bus route below.
By Bus: JR Shinkansen Yamagata Station, board a bus 山交バス (around 35m) to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, from there walk about 15 minutes to Zao San 蔵王山魔駅, take the Zao Ropeway, change at the first ropeway station and take the Zao ropeway sancho line (蔵王ロープウェイ山頂線) to the top
By Bus: (Longer hike from the other side)
About 100 minutes by bus. From bus platform 1 in front of Yamagata Station (山形駅前１番), board bus bound for Zao Onsen・Togatta Sancho (蔵王温泉・遠刈田山頂). Alight at Zao Togatta Sancho (遠刈田山頂), the final stop. There is only one bus a day in each direction, so please be mindful of the schedule.
By Car: Yamagata Zao IC > 国道286号 > 県道 167, 53, 21, 14号
There is a free carpark
Helpful Websites
Zao Ropeway (English Website)
Visit Miyagi (English Website)
安達太良山 (Mount Adatara)
Mount Adatara | Fukushima
Mount Adatara in Fukushima is the second stratovolcano on our list. The gorgeous mountain has enchanted famous poets throughout history and is depicted in the Man'yoshu (the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry). However, it became more popularly known after Kotaro Takamura wrote about it in his book of poetry Chieko-sho (Portrait of Chieko) in 1941. In his poem, his wife Chieko comments that she misses Fukushima. She comments that the blue sky that appears every day over the top of Mount Adatara is her real sky. In dedication, there is a stone monument on the top of Yakushidake with the engraving "The sky above here is the true sky".
As well as being a Japan top 100 mountain, it is also garnered a place in the top 100 mountains for flowers. The most popular time to visit Mount Adatara is at the beginning of Summer when azaleas are in bloom. We love to head over in Autumn when the foliage has changed into a sea of reds and oranges. There are several well-maintained hiking trails on the mountain that are suitable for beginners.
Hiking Route
Takamura "Real Sky" (ほんとの空) stone monument. From there follow signs to Sennyotairabunki (仙女平分岐). After Sennyotairabunki, it will start to get a bit steeper, but you only need to climb 223 meters to the summit. Most people will be able to hike up in around 35 minutes. Once at the top, you will have 360 views of the surrounding area. Be careful taking photos as it can be pretty windy at the top. From here, it is all downhill. Continue onto Tetsu Zan (鉄山) and then down right at Mine no Tsujibunki (峰ノ辻分岐). Once you reach the crossroads at Mine no Tsuji, follow the signs to Kurogane Hut* (くろがね小や). There are toilets and an onsen here. From the hut, take a left and then right down to Seishidaira (勢至平). In the early Summer, the area is covered with red azaleas. From here, keep going down for about 1 hour until you reach Okudake (奥岳) and the bottom Adatara Express Station.
*If you want to take a shorter up and back route - once you reach the crossroads at Mine no Tsuji, there is a path back to Adatara Summit, and from there, you can retrace your steps back to the ropeway.
For hikers who want more of a challenge, it is possible to hike from Okudake to Sancho Station instead of using the gondola. It would add roughly one and a half hours to your hike, making this a 5-hour hike (not including breaks).
Sancho Station (山頂駅) ~ (35m) ~ Sennyotairabunki (善女平分岐) ~ (35m) ~ Mount Adatara (安達太良山) ~ (15m) ~ Tetsu zan・Mine no Tsujibunki (鉄山・峰ノ辻分岐) ~ (10m) ~ Mine no Tsuji (峰の辻) ~ (25m) ~ Kuroganegoya (くろがね小屋) ~ (25m) ~ Seishidaira (勢至平) ~ (1h) ~ Okudake (奥岳)
Access
By Train: The nearest train station is Nihonmatsu Station.
By Bus: From JR Nihonmatsu Station, take the 福島交通バス to 岳温泉 (around 30mins), take a taxi (10 mins / around ¥2500), take the Adatara express (10 mins) to the Sancho Station 山頂駅
By Car: Nihonmatsu IC 二本松I.C > 国道459 > 県道386号
Helpful Websites
Adatara Resort (Japanese)
Tohoku Tourism (English Website)
Nihonmatsu Tourism Federation (Japanese)
Norikura Hiking Map (From Nokuradake Tourism association - website below)
