Loop of Mt. Amigasa and Mt. Gongen in the Southern Yatsugatake Mountains | HIKES IN JAPAN
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Loop of Mt. Amigasa and Mt. Gongen in the Southern Yatsugatake Mountains

A tour of unalike two mountains of the Southern Yatsugatake Mountains.
  • Duration
    2Days / 8.5Hours
    Highest Point
    2715m
    Elevation Gain
    1197m
  • Skill Level
    Fitness Level
    Gear Level

Mt. Amigasa (Amigasa-yama) and Mt. Gongen (Gongen-dake) are located on the border between Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture. They form the ridgeline of the southern tip of the Yatsugatake Mountain Range (Yatsugatake-renpo). Despite being adjacent to each other, the conical and gently-sloping Mt. Amigasa and Mt. Gongen, with its steep rock ridges, could not look more unalike. Here we will introduce a looping route from the Kannon-daira trailhead in Yamanashi Prefecture, which is located at a high altitude and also has good transportation access.

After hiking directly up the trail from Kannon-daira through the forest belt for about an hour you will arrive at an outlook equipped with benches called Unkai. The outlook offers a great view of Kobuchizawa and the rest of the highlands in the southern base of the Yatsugatake Mountain Range.

After hiking further up the ridge from Unkai for about 50 minutes you will arrive at a fork. If you take the right fork, you can traverse Mt. Amigasa and go to the Seinen-goya mountain hut. However, we will take the left fork and head for Mt. Amigasa.As you climb up the steep slope formed by a row of massive boulders the surrounding area will transition into stone pine belt and you will arrive at Mt. Amigasa.

The peak is a rocky section dotted with stone pines. Hikers can enjoy a 360-degree view with the Yatsugatake Mountain Range to the north and the Southern Japanese Alps and Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) to the south. The Seinen-goya is located in a col about a 20-minute hike down from Mt. Amigasa. You will stay the first night here.

On the start of the second day, you will head towards Mt. Gongen. After passing through a meadow dotted with dead trees and climb through the forest belt you will arrive at Noroshiba. After hiking down for a bit, you will climb a rocky peak known as Nishi-giboshi. Proceed through the rocky area that connects Nishi-giboshi to Higashi-giboshi using the chains. As you pass the Gongen-goya mountain hut you will come to yet another uphill rocky area. About one and a half hours after leaving the Seinen-goya you will arrive at the summit of Mt. Gongen where two massive boulders stand.

Carefully hike down the ridge heading south from Mt. Gongen and in about 40 minutes you will be standing on a peak called Mitsugashira. There is a fork just below Mitsugashira. Proceed down the south west fork and in about 2 and half hours you will come out onto the Yatsugatake crossroad.

Walk down the Yatsugatake crossroad, which traverses through a forest belt and hike back up the dry riverbed to return to Kannon-daira.

Other Info

Vestiges of ancient mountain worship remain on Mt. Gongen in the form of an iron sword at the peak of Mt. Gongen and miniature shrine from the Himine-jinja Shrine just below the peak. Meanwhile, the traces of history can be seen in the name of Noroshiba. Noroshiba was so-named for being where Takeda Shingen, the 16th century samurai warlord who ruled Kai Province (modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture), sent smoke signals, known as “noroshi” in Japanese.

High Season:May to October

Notes

The ridgelines around Mt. Gongen that lead from Noroshiba to Mitsugashira are rocky and there are multiple areas with chains. There are also places where the rocks are brittle and prone to rockslides. As such, make sure to exercise caution against slipping and falling, rockslides, and other hazards when passing through this area.

Route Map

Elevation Map

Height (m)
Horizontal Distance (km)

Spec

Duration
2Days / 8.5Hours
Highest Point
2715m
Elevation Gain
1197m
Horizontal Distance
10.9Km
Skill Level
Fitness Level
Gear Level

On the Trail

Sleeping

Seinen-goya, Gongen-goya

Eating

Spatio Kobuchizawa

Hot-Springs

Spatio Kobuchizawa

Instagram

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Access

Mt. Amigasa and Mt. Gongen are located on the border between Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture. Take the JR Chuo Line from Tokyo Station and you will arrive at Shinjuku Station in approximately 15 minutes. From Shinjuku Station transfer to the JR Chuo Line limited express and you will arrive at Kobuchizawa Station in between one hour and 53 minutes to 2 hours and 6 minutes.
Take a taxi from Kobuchizawa Station and you will arrive at Kannon-daira in approximately 20 minutes.

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COURSES

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