Difficulty: 4/5
Hiking Distance: 13km
Time: 2 days
Elevation change: ➚1670m ➘1670m
Prefecture: Yamanashi
北岳
Kitadake, Yamanashi
Elevation: 3,193m
Prefecture
Yamanashi
Distance
13 km
Elevation Change
➚ 1670m ➘ 1670m
Time
2 Days
Difficulty
4/5
Accomodation
Huts & Campgrounds
Overview
Kitadake is the second highest mountain in Japan, with spectacular views of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding southern Alps. Access is via a two hour bus from Kofu station as no private cars are allowed on the road. The road is very mountainous with many potholes and winding corners, those with travel sickness may need to consider anti-nausea medicine. There are two mountain huts offering rooms and campsites near the peak, the closest one is Kita-no-koya (Kitadake Shoulder Hut) which is only 30 mins from the peak. The itinerary listed here describes a loop hike that returns down a different trail on the second day, this includes some really cool terrain features and helps you to avoid the crowds on the main trail.
Some people like to extend this hike into multiple days to include the neighbouring peaks. A common example is the Shirane Sanzan (Three White Peaks) which includes Ainodake (4th highest mountain) and Notoridake (15th highest mountain). The most common option is a 3 day hike including Ainodake, however, I do not recommend this option as the normal Kitadake hike is superior in terms of terrain and views.
Access
Car: Private vehicles are not allowed on the road so you will need to find parking in Kofu city and catch the bus from there.
Kyoto and Osaka: The cheapest option is a direct bus to Kofu Station from Kyoto and Osaka. You can view all the details and make reservations here. It takes over 7 hours and the price ranges from ¥6,000 to ¥9,000.
Tokyo: There is a train that runs all the way to Kofu from Shinjuku station. It takes about 90 mins and costs around ¥2500 for a non reserved seat.
Trailhead Bus: Once you arrive at Kofu station you will need to take a bus to the trailhead. It takes 2 hours and is quite a bumpy ride up winding mountain roads. It costs ¥2000, you can view the timetable here.
Maps
Trail Description
Day 1
Hirogawara to Kitadake
GPS Hiking Map: outdooractive.com
Time: 7-8 hrs
Distance: 6.6km
Elevation change: ➚ 1660m gain ➘ 180m loss
From the bus stop at Hirogawara, walk up the road toward the bridge, cross the river and enter the campground where the trailhead is. This is also the best place to fill up with free water for the hike. After about 2 hours of climbing you'll reach the Shirane Oike mountain hut, this gives you more options if you want to plan a different itinerary. After another 2 hours you will reach the ridgeline and start to experience the incredible views of the southern alps. From here it's only another 2 hours to reach the Kitadake Shoulder Hut. Depending on your time and the weather, drop some of your gear off here and head up to the peak of Kitadake for the sunset. The peak is only 30-40 minutes from the mountain hut.
Day 2
Day 2
Kitadake to Hirogawara via the valley
GPS Hiking Map: outdooractive.com
Time: 7-8 hrs
Distance: 7.2km
Elevation change: ➚ 260m gain ➘ 1750m loss
For your second day, instead of returning down the standard out-and-back trail, it's much more enjoyable to hike around the peak and then down the valley. It doesn't add any extra time, includes much cooler terrain features, plus it's not as steep, so will be easier on your knees. I stumbled upon this detour while I was returning from the somewhat monotonous hike to Ainodake. This detour features a precarious (but safe) wooden boardwalk attached to rocky cliffs, some dramatic rock formations, and large ladders for some fun climbing. And, if you're hiking on one of the holidays or the weekend, this will help you avoid the crowds.
Wake up early and catch the incredible sunrise from the peak, hopefully you get beautiful weather and can see Mt. Fuji. After enjoying the views head down the other side of Kitadake until you reach an intersection, the trail on the left will take you alongside the mountain where the boardwalk is located. Follow this trail down toward the small neighbouring peak where you will find the ladders and the valley. Climb up the small peak for some nice views and then head back down into the valley for your final journey to the bus stop. Check the GPS map linked above for reference.
The Kitadake mountain hut
Elevation Profile
Day 1: Hirogawara to Kitadake
Day 2: Kitadake to Hirogawara via the valley
Weather and Seasons
Summer and autumn, from July to October, are the best time for this hike. There is likely to be snow hanging around until June, and starting again in October. The most amount of clouds and rainfall usually occurs in June and July. The autumn leaves will be colourful from mid-September to mid-October.
Useful links
Cautions
Altitude
Monkeys
Bears (rare)