Mt. Yarigatake: Round Trip from Kamikochi

From the Kamikochi Bus Terminal, you’ll come to Kappa Bridge (Kappa Bashi). Do not actually cross it, just follow the left bank along the Kamogawa River. After passing a camping area, you'll hike along a level woodland path. In an hour you'll pass Myojin, and in about two hours you'll reach Tokusawa. The Tokusawa Lodge and Tokusawa-en mountain huts have grassy zones that are popular for camping.

Continue from Tokusawa on the level path through the woods and you'll reach Yokoo, which is about 3 hours from Kamikochi. It's 22 kilometers between Kamikochi and Mt. Yarigatake, and Yokoo is almost exactly midway along. There is a mountain hut at Yokoo.

The trail onward from Yokoo narrows further. You'll get your first peak of Mt. Yarigatake once you reach Yarimigawara. Cross two bridges and you'll arrive at Yarisawa Lodge, about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Yokoo. Spend your first night here.

The next morning as you continue, you cross into shrubland around Babadaira with its camping area, and then the path becomes scree.
When the trail turns left, you'll ascend a scree slope through meadows. Hiking up through the stone pine belt from the fork at Tenguhara, you'll wind through an area of moraine called the Green Band and Mt. Yarigatake will come into view.

From there the steep ascent continues past the turn-off for Hutte Oyari and Sessho Hutte until you reach Yarigatake Sanso mountain hut. In July and August, a profusion of alpine plants bloom in this area. Hike up the winding steeply path and you’ll arrive at Yarigatake Sanso. From there head for the summit of Yarigatake, known as Yarinohosaki.

You'll make your way up and come back down via different routes. Climb the rocky area following the paint markings while using ladders and chains to help you along. After two final ladders you’ll find yourself on the summit.
Carefully descend with the aid of ladders and chains to the mountain hut where you'll spend your second night.

You'll make your way back down the mountain on the third day.