Mt. Kitadake Loop from Hirogawara

After getting off the bus at Hirogawara, cross the suspension bridge and ascend through the virgin forest. Proceed left at the fork and ascend along Okanba-sawa (Ohkanba-sawa) while crossing the few bridges located along the way and you will arrive at Futamata in approximately two and a half hours. After traversing the slope you will arrive at the Shiraneoike-goya mountain hut, which is where you will stay the night.

The next day, return to Futamata. After passing over the snowy valley of Okanba-zawa and ascending the grassland, which becomes a field of flowering alpine plans in the summer, the Mt. Kitadake buttress will come into view. After you pass over the Happonba-sawa, climbing the steep slope along the wooden steps amongst the shrubs and your field of view opens up as you enter the creeping pine zone, you will arrive at the Happonba Col (Happonba no Col).

From here, climb the scree slope, which also has some boulders, and you will arrive at the Tsurione Ridge fork. Turning right from here and ascending the scree slope of the ridge, you will reach the summit of Mt. Kitadake in approximately 20 minutes.

Descend along the ridge from the summit to the Kitadake Katano-koya mountain hut and, once you arrive at the Kotaro Ridge (Kotaro-one) fork, take the right fork and descend the steep slope through the Kusasuberi grassland. Once you return to the Shiraneoike-goya, traverse through the shrubs, and descend through the forest, you will arrive at Hirogawara in approximately 2 hours.