Yatsugatake

A relatively safe mountain region where you can enjoy picking and choosing from an abundant array of courses, making planning easy.

Please make your plans according to the weather, your physical condition, and the experience levels/hiking abilities of those in your group.

The recommended trail entrance for all three mountain lodges is Sakuradaira (please see the map).

There are a great many ways to enjoy Yatsugatake in a short timeframe! Below are our recommended hiking plans.

Recommended Plans

Trail 1

Fully enjoy the Southern Alps on a round trip of southern Yatsugatake’s main peaks


  • Duration

    2 Days


  • Difficulty

    Intermediate


  • Start

    Minotoguchi


  • Finish

    Minotoguchi

Day 1Minotoguchi → Minoto → Akadake Kosen → Mt. Iodake 2,760 m → Iodake Mountain Lodge (stay overnight).
Trail entrance to lodging: 5 hrs 30 min (excluding breaks)
* Day 1 short version: Sakuradaira → Natsuzawa Kosen →Natsuzawa Pass → Mt. Iodake → Iodake Mountain Lodge. Trail entrance to lodging: 3 hrs (excluding breaks). The trail is easy to walk.
Day 2Mountain Lodge → Mt. Yokodake 2,830m → Mt. Akadake 2,899ｍ → Gyoja Lodge → Minoto → Minotoguchi
Lodging to descent exit: 6 hrs 10 min
* If you have spare time on Day 2, circumnavigating Mt. Amidadake (2,805 m / 9,203 ft.) after Mt. Akadake is also recommended (adds 1hr 15min to the course above).

Trail 2

Enjoy Yatsugatake’s popular peaks (Mt. Iodake & Mt. Tengudake) in a short trip!


  • Duration

    2 Days


  • Difficulty

    Beginner


  • Start

    Sakuradaira


  • Finish

    Sakuradaira

Day 1Sakuradaira → Natsuzawa Kosen → Neishidake Mountain Lodge → Mt. Nishi-Tengudake 2,646m → Neishidake Mountain Lodge (stay overnight)
Trail entrance to lodging: 4 hrs 30 min
* After checking in and dropping off your luggage at the mountain lodge on Day 1, take a round trip to Mt. Tengudake. If the weather is poor, you can delay climbing Mt. Tengudake until the next day, for safety and/or clearer views.
Day 2Mountain Lodge → Natsuzawa Pass →Mt. Iodake 2,760ｍ → Akaiwanokashira → Natsuzawa Kosen → Sakuradaira
Lodging to descent exit: 3 hrs 20 min
* If you have spare time on Day 2, it is also possible to take a round trip from Mt. Iodake to the alpine plant treasure trove, Mt. Yokodake. Adds 2 hrs to the course above (excluding breaks). Toilets are available at Iodake Mountain Lodge.

Trail 3

Make the most of the hot spring while also enjoying some leisurely hiking (recommended for beginners)


  • Duration

    2 Days


  • Difficulty

    Beginner


  • Start

    Sakuradaira


  • Finish

    Sakuradaira

Day 1Sakuradaira → Natsuzawa Kosen
Trail entrance to lodging: 30 min
* The 15:30 JR Chino Station East Exit Departure Shuttle Service (for guests of Natsuzawa Kosen only) can be used to reach Sakuradaira Trailhead.
Day 2Plan ANatsuzawa Kosen → Natsuzawa Pass → Mt. Iodake 2,760 m → Akaiwanokashira → Natsuzawa Kosen → Sakuradaira
Lodging to descent exit: 4 hrs 10 min
Plan BNatsuzawa Kosen → Neishidake Mountain Lodge → Mt. Nishi-Tengudake 2,646 m → Natsuzawa Kosen → Sakuradaira
Lodging to descent exit: 5 hrs 40 min
* The 14:30 Sakura Trailhead Departure Shuttle Service (for guests of Natsuzawa Kosen only) can be used to reach JR Chino Station.
* Using the 9:15 JR Chino Station East Exit Departure Shuttle Service, you can try mountain climbing on the first day using either Plan A or Plan B. On the second day, you can use the 8:00 Sakura Trailhead Departure Shuttle Service to head to JR Chino Station.

Trail 4

A premium mountain trekking plan covering three peaks and three mountain lodges


  • Duration

    2 Nights 3 Days


  • Difficulty

    Intermediate


  • Start

    Shinjuku


  • Finish

    Shinjuku

Day 1NATSUZAWA KOSEN
1:00pmDepart Shinjuku Station (JR Azusa #25 Rapid Train* / To Matsumoto – Track 10) (2 hrs 6min / JPY 5,650)
3:06pmArrive Chino Station (Nagano Prefecture)
Take Chino Station East Exit and head down the stairs to street level. Wait by the benches for staff from Natsuzawa Kosen Mountain Lodge (“Natsuzawa Kosen”) to pick you up.
3:30pmShuttle van departs from Chino Station to Sakuradaira Trailhead (Sakuradaira gate). (Approx 60 minutes)
4:30pmWalk from Sakuradaira Trailhead (Sakuradaira gate) to Natsuzawa Kosen (approx. 30 minutes uphill / 1.2km)

Accommodation: Natsuzawa Kosen Mountain Lodge (Located at an elevation of 2,060m) Tel 0266-73-6673
JPY 15,000/person/night for shared room

Includes:

  • Dinner & breakfast
  • Hot spring bath (small wash towel provided) before and after hike
  • Free shuttle van to/from Chino Station and Sakuradaira (This service is only available to guests staying overnight at Natsuzawa Kosen. Reservations required.)

Optional:

  • “Bento” lunchbox JPY 1,000 (reserve lunchbox in advance upon arrival)

Prices includes taxes. All major credit cards accepted.

Day 2IODAKE & YOKODAKE HIKE
Early morningBreakfast
8am – 3pm

Iodake Hike:
Natsuzawa Kosen – Akaiwa-no-Kashira – Mt. Iodake – Iodake Mountain Lodge (Approx 3 hours / 4km)
Lunch break / Leave bags or heavy items at Iodake Mtn Lodge

Yokodake Hike:
Iodake Mtn Lodge – Mt. Yokodake – Iodake Mtn Lodge (Approx 2 hours / 2.6km out-and-back along same route)

*Be sure to return to the mountain lodge by at least 4:00pm.

Accommodation: Iodake Mountain Lodge(Located at an elevation of 2,650m) Tel 0266-73-6673
JPY 14,000/person/night for shared room
Additional JPY 6,000/room for upgrade to private room*
Additional JPY 10,000/room for upgrade to luxury private room*
*Limited availability. You must arrive by 4:00pm.

Includes:

  • Dinner & breakfast

Optional:

  • Hot shower (available early June to mid October) JPY 500 (15 min)
  • “Bento” lunchbox JPY 1,000 (reserve in advance upon arrival)

Prices includes taxes. All major credit cards accepted.

Bad Weather Option (Day 2): Neishidake Hike
If the weather is bad, a shorter hike through the forest to Neishidake Mountain Lodge is recommended. (The Iodake Hike to Iodake Mountain Lodge is a long hike across an unprotected ridge that gets extremely cold, windy and slippery during poor weather.)

Accommodation: Neishidake Mountain Lodge (Located at an elevation of 2,550m)
JPY 14,000/person/night for shared room Additional JPY 4,000/room for upgrade to private room

Day 3NEISHIDAKE & TENGU HIKE
Early morningBreakfast
8am – 2pm

Neishidake & Tengu Hike: Iodake Mtn Lodge – Natsuzawa Pass – Neishidake Mtn Lodge - Mt. Tengu-dake (East & West Tengu) – Neishidake Mtn Lodge (Approx 4 hrs / 5.3km)

Recommended: Coffee & Milk Pudding Break with spectacular views at Neishidake Mtn Lodge

Natsuzawa Hike: Neishidake Mtn Lodge – Natsuzawa Kosen Mountain Lodge (Approx 1 hr / 3km)

Recommended: Lunch at Natsuzawa Kosen

*Be sure to reach Natsuzawa Kosen by 2:00pm at the latest to take the shuttle van (make sure to reserve shuttle in advance).

2:00pmWalk from Natsuzawa Kosen to Sakuradaira Trailhead (Sakuradaira gate) (approx. 20 minutes downhill / 1.2km)
2:30pmShuttle van departs from Sakuradaira to Chino Station (approx. 60 minutes)
3:30pmArrive at Chino Station
4:20pmDepart Chino Staion(JR Azusa #44 Rapid Train* / To Shinjuku) (2 hrs 25 min / JPY 5,650)
6:45pmArrive at Shinjuku Station
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