男体山

Mt. Nantai, Nikko

Elevation: 2486m

Prefecture

Tochigi

Elevation Gain

1210 m

Distance

9 km

Time

6-7 hours

Difficulty

3/5

Accommodation

Hotels & Campgrounds

Overview

Mt Nantai is a magnificent volcano rising up from Lake Chuzenji. It's one of the best hikes in Nikko National Park and is listed as one of Japan's Hyakumeizan (Japan's 100 famous mountains). It is a relatively short but steep climb that first begins in the forest, then transitions into large boulders and rocks, and ends with rich volcanic gravel. The views at the top are amazing, it also holds a small UNESCO listed shrine on the summit.

Aside from Mt. Nantai, Nikko National Park is an incredible collection of mountains, lakes, temples, and shrines. You could easily spend 3 to 4 days hanging out here and exploring the area. Some of the most notable attractions include the incredible Kegon Waterfall, the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, and the Mt. Hangetsu Observation Deck.

Access

Car

The trailhead is located at a shrine which has limited parking, but there are plenty of parking lots within walking distance. If you're planning to drive here on the weekend, prepare for a lot of traffic. The roads around Nikko are stunning, so it might be worth taking a day off to avoid the weekend crowds if you prefer to drive.

Train & Bus

If you're aiming to use the fastest trains from Tokyo and spend a few days in Nikko, then the most convenient option is purchasing the Nikko All-Area Digital Pass online for 8000 yen.

It includes:

Travel between Tokyo (Asakusa) and Nikko on the Limited Express trains.
Unlimited bus rides inside the park.
Discounts at various shops around Nikko.
Valid for 4 days.

If you're taking the cheaper local trains, or driving to Nikko town, you can just buy a Nikko Bus Pass from the tourist info centre at Nikko Station, the price varies depending on the number of days and the areas covered, but it's usually better value than paying individually for each bus ride.

If you're on a budget, the most economical option is to buy the Marugoto Nikko Free Pass in person from the TOBU info center at Asakusa Station. It only costs 5000 yen and covers transport between Tokyo, Nikko, Lake Chuzenji, and Yumoto Onsen.

Trailhead: Google Maps

Crowds: During autumn (Sep/Oct) and on long weekends, crowds in Nikko can be pretty intense. The traffic can also become very congested, sometimes doubling the travel time by both car and bus.

Note: Access to the trailhead is managed by the Chugushi Shrine and requires a ¥1000 entry fee. They also forbid any hiking from November 11 to April 25.

Maps

GPS hiking map: outdooractive.com

Online Hiking Map: yamap.com

Useful links

Google Maps

General

Weather and Seasons

The hiking season is from May to October, snow will hang around until May and begins falling again in October. The summer weather is beautiful and about 8 degrees cooler than in Tokyo, although rain is quite common, especially from June to July. The autumn leaves reach their peak around the end of September, which is also the busiest time of year.

Accommodation

Nikko has a wide range of amazing accommodation options, but they can get booked out pretty fast. We examined all the hotels and ryokans to develop a definitive list of the best accommodation in Nikko to suit all budgets.

If you prefer camping, there's a campsite right on the lake, located here.

Trail Description

The trailhead starts at the Futarasan Chugushi Shrine, and you'll need to pay ¥1000 to enter as the mountain is considered part of the shrine. The trail begins in a nice forest and gradually meanders up the mountain. After about 20 minutes, you will reach a road, keep an eye out for a small trail on the left which bypasses the first section of the road. The road doesn't last long and soon you will be back in the forest, the hike gets steeper from here.

The trail is well-marked and pretty straightforward, so you won't need a detailed description. After about 2 hours, you will reach a rocky section with large boulders, which can be quite fun to climb. Eventually, you'll come across red volcanic rocks and scree, which marks the final stretch to the summit.