How to go to Mount Kita-dake 北岳
Mount Kita-dake 北岳 is the second highest mountain in Japan, standing at an impressive elevation of 3,193 meters (10,476 feet). It is located in the Japanese Southern Alps 南アルプス, in Yamanashi Prefecture 山梨県.
The peak of Mount Kita-dake 北岳 is most commonly accessed from Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘. The general travel plan by public transport starts from Kofu Station 甲府駅.
- Kofu - Hirogawara Line 甲府-広河原線
- Narada - Hirogawara Line 奈良田-広河原線
- Hayakawa Noriai Bus Route 早川町乗合バス線 |
Timetable | Fares
Hiking Trails to Mount Kita-dake 北岳
There are 2 main trails to hike up Mount Kita-dake 北岳.
At Kofu Station 甲府駅, board the bus from Kofu Station South Exit Bus Terminal Platform 1 甲府駅南口バスターミナル１番のりば.
The bus will bring you to Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘.
The timetable for the bus to Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 from Kofu Station 甲府駅 is shown below. The name of the bus route that you are looking for is Kofu - Hirogawara Line 甲府-広河原線.
Below is the bus operational schedule calendar for 2023.
The first schedule applies to weekends and public holidays during Jul 15 (Sat) – Aug 20 (Sun), as well as everyday during peak season of Jun 23 (Fri) – Nov 05 (Sun), whereas the second schedule is for the weekdays outside of the peak season only.
Let's first look at the more widely used schedule. On the Japanese site, this is labeled as the "Weekend" schedule.
| Kofu Station 甲府駅 | Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 |
|---|---|
| 4:35 | 6:28 |
| 6:55 | 8:48 |
| 9:05 | 10:58 |
| 10:05 | 11:58 |
| 12:05 | 13:58 |
| 14:05 | 15:58 |
And now the "Weekday" schedule.
| Kofu Station 甲府駅 | Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 |
|---|---|
| 9:05 | 10:58 |
| 10:05 | 11:58 |
| 12:05 | 13:58 |
Source: Yamanashi Kotsu Limited (山梨交通株式会社) (Last updated: 2024-06-01)
If you want to have the most daylight during this trip, be sure to catch the first bus! It leaves at 4:35am from Kofu Station 甲府駅.
Yes, the first bus leaves at 4:35 am. You'd be surprised at the number of people who would wake up this early to make the climb.
These pictures show the queue during my trip.
Here are a few ways you can descend Mount Kita-dake 北岳 depending on your descend route.
First option, leaving Mount Kita-dake 北岳 from Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 would mean taking the same Kofu - Hirogawara Line 甲府-広河原線 bus route back to Kofu Station 甲府駅.
Second option, if you are going to take the Shirane Sanzan Trail 白峰三山コース and end your trip at Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停, you can either get back to Kofu Station 甲府駅 or head to Shimobe Onsen Station 下部温泉駅 or Minobu Station 身延駅.
Shimobe Onsen Station 下部温泉駅 has an onsen, the Shimobe Onsen しもべの湯, near the station. Hence, I highly recommend taking the Shirane Sanzan Trail 白峰三山コース and get home via Shimobe Onsen Station 下部温泉駅, which is a JR train station.
Below is the bus operational schedule calendar for 2023.
The first schedule applies to weekends and public holidays during Jul 15 (Sat) – Aug 20 (Sun), as well as everyday during peak season of Jun 23 (Fri) – Nov 05 (Sun), whereas the second schedule is for the weekdays outside of the peak season only.
Let's first look at the more widely used schedule. On the Japanese site, this is labeled as the "Weekend" schedule.
| Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 | Kofu Station 甲府駅 |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | 11:55 |
| 11:00 | 12:55 |
| 12:00 | 13:50 |
| 14:00 | 15:55 |
| 16:40 | 18:30 |
And now the "Weekend" schedule.
| Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 | Kofu Station 甲府駅 |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | 11:55 |
| 12:00 | 13:50 |
| 14:00 | 15:55 |
| 16:40 | 18:30 |
Source: Yamanashi Kotsu Limited (山梨交通株式会社) (Last updated: 2024-06-01)
Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 is only accessible by car, and the only means of public transportation out of there is to take a bus to Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 first then take the bus back to Kofu Station 甲府駅.
Below is the bus operational schedule calendar for 2023.
The first schedule applies to weekends and public holidays during Jul 15 (Sat) – Aug 20 (Sun), as well as everyday during peak season of Jun 23 (Fri) – Nov 05 (Sun), whereas the second schedule is for the weekdays outside of the peak season only.
Let's first look at the more widely used schedule. On the Japanese site, this is labeled as the "Weekend" schedule.
| Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 | Archi Sawa Bridge アルキ沢橋 | Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 | 6:03 | 6:15 |
| 8:40 | 9:13 | 9:25 |
| 15:30 | 16:03 | 16:15 |
And now the "Weekend" schedule.
| Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 | Archi Sawa Bridge アルキ沢橋 | Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 | 9:13 | 9:25 |
| 15:30 | 16:03 | 16:15 |
Source: Yamanashi Kotsu Limited (山梨交通株式会社) (Last updated: 2024-06-01)
Once you have reached Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘, you can take the Kofu - Hirogawara Line (Descend) 甲府-広河原線 (下り) back to Kofu Station 甲府駅.
It is the same bus that departs from Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 as shown above. Here is the schedule once again.
Below is the bus operational schedule calendar for 2023.
The first schedule applies to weekends and public holidays during Jul 15 (Sat) – Aug 20 (Sun), as well as everyday during peak season of Jun 23 (Fri) – Nov 05 (Sun), whereas the second schedule is for the weekdays outside of the peak season only.
Let's first look at the more widely used schedule. On the Japanese site, this is labeled as the "Weekend" schedule.
| Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 | Kofu Station 甲府駅 |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | 11:55 |
| 11:00 | 12:55 |
| 12:00 | 13:50 |
| 14:00 | 15:55 |
| 16:40 | 18:30 |
And now the "Weekend" schedule.
| Hirogawara Sanso 広河原山荘 | Kofu Station 甲府駅 |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | 11:55 |
| 12:00 | 13:50 |
| 14:00 | 15:55 |
| 16:40 | 18:30 |
Source: Yamanashi Kotsu Limited (山梨交通株式会社) (Last updated: 2024-06-01)
Alternatively, you can take the bus from Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 to either Shimobe Onsen Station 下部温泉駅 or Minobu Station 身延駅.
Positioned amidst tranquil vistas, the Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 offers a peaceful setting for those who arrive early. The picturesque view provides a splendid diversion, allowing you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the landscape while awaiting the bus.
This gorgeous location eliminates any concern about how you should fill your time, as the stunning surroundings naturally engage and soothe your senses, turning a simple wait into an unexpectedly pleasant experience.
Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停
Elevation: 2,697 feet / 822m
Note that there is an extra 200￥ charge for those carrying backpacks.
| Narada Onsen Bus Stop 奈良田温泉バス停 | Shimobe Onsen Station 下部温泉駅 | Minobu Station 身延駅 |
|---|---|---|
| 6:35 | 7:44 | 8:05 |
| 9:50 | 10:59 | 11:20 |
| 13:50 | 14:59 | 15:20 |
| 15:55 | 17:04 | 17:25 |
Source: Hayakawa Town (Last updated: 2024-06-01)