Traverse Hike of Mt. Odaigahara from Osugidani Valley | HIKES IN JAPAN
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Traverse Hike of Mt. Odaigahara from Osugidani Valley

Headed for a mysterious primeval forest through the deep valley.
  • Duration
    2Days / 12.5Hours
    Highest Point
    1695m
    Elevation Gain
    1401m
  • Skill Level
    Fitness Level
    Gear Level

Mt. Odaigahara (Ohdaigahara-yama) is located on the border between Nara and Mie prefectures in the Kansai Region, inside the Yoshino-Kumano National Park.
Selected as one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains, Mt. Odaigahara is a mountain featuring one of the highest amounts of rainfall in Japan as well as Yakushima Island.
The Odaigahara Driveway is maintained, so day-trips from the Nara prefecture side are possible for this mountain. On this route, you pass through Osugidani Valley, a beautiful valley that is one of Japan’s top three valleys, from the Mie prefecture side to a two-day traverse route that heads towards Mt. Odaigahara.

Walk along the paved road from the trailhead, and when you pass a power plant, a hiking path that traverses the sloped face of the left side of the valley begins. It is a narrow path carved into the rock wall of a steep slope, so be very careful to avoid falls while hiking this path. There are chains installed where necessary.


Cross three suspension bridges, and about 2 hours from the power plant, you’ll arrive at Senpirono-taki Falls. These falls have the biggest drop on the Osugidani route. About an hour from Senpiro Falls, you’ll arrive at Shishi-buchi abyss . It features a b eautiful view of clear blue waters flowing in a narrow valley between sheer cliffs.


Proceeding 45 minutes from Shishi-buchi abyss, you’ll find the largest suspension bridge in the valley right in front of a rock wall. Cross the suspension bridge, proceed along the right wall of the valley, and in about 40 minutes, come to Momonoki-yamanoie (also named as “Momonoki-goya”) mountain hut. Stay overnight here on the first day.


On the second day, first proceed along the left wall of the valley. About 25 minutes from Momonoki-yamanoie, you’ll arrive at Nanatsugama-taki Falls, a waterfall that flows down several stages. Cross four suspension bridges to proceed along the right and left walls of the valley.


You will arrive at Dokura-taki Falls from Nanatsugama-taki Falls in about one and a half hours. At Dokura-taki Falls, diverge from Osugidani Valley and proceed along the steep hiking path. Go into the forest path, and after walking about one and a half hours from Dokura-taki Falls, you’ll arrive at Awadani-goya mountain hut.


From Awadani-goya, hike the steep face called “Shakunage-zaka (rhododendron hill)” towards the ridgeline. As indicated by the name, rhododendron bloom here from late May to early June.


Hiking up and down along the large and small peaks along the mountain ridge, you will arrive at the highest peak of Mt. Odaigahara, Mt. Hidegadake, in about 2 hours from the Awadani-goya.


From Mt. Hidegadake, descend the wooden stairs, and in about 30 minutes you’ll arrive at a grassy field with withered trees dotting the area. Proceed from here to a fork in the saddle of the mountain in about 10 minutes, go right, and after a 30-minute descent down the well-kept stone hiking path, you’ll arrive at the Odaigahara bus stop.

Other Info

If you want to enjoy the views made by the richly diverse plantlife of Odaigahara, flowers of rhododendron and azalea bloom from late May to early June, and the fall leaves are beautiful from mid-October to later October.
Although not introduced on this route, there is a circuit hike you can walk to enjoy a suspension bridge from Odaigahara bus stop across the valley, and the rock wall named “Daijya-gura.”


High Season:May to November

Notes

Osugidani Valley has a hiking path along a steep valley and features many dangerous locations, such that accidents where hikers fell and died have occurred.
The walking time is long too, so you may need to reconsider entering the valley during poor weather.
There is also a danger of rocks falling from above, so bring a helmet just to be safe.

Route Map

Elevation Map

Height (m)
Horizontal Distance (km)

Spec

Duration
2Days / 12.5Hours
Highest Point
1695m(Mt. Hidegadake)
Elevation Gain
1401m
Horizontal Distance
14.6Km
Skill Level
Fitness Level
Gear Level

On the Trail

Sleeping

Momonoki-yamanoie, Awadani-goya

Eating

Odaigahara product store

Hot-Springs

Kamikitayama-onsen Yakushi-yu

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Access

Mt. Odaigahara is located on the border of Nara and Mie prefectures in the Kansai region. From Tokyo station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to arrive at Nagoya station (approx. an hour and 34 minutes). From Nagoya station, change to the Ise Railway Limited Express and take a train bound for Kii-Katsuura and travel to Misedani station (approx. an hour 42 minutes).
Walk from Misedani station to Roadside Station Odai (approx. 10 minutes), take a Mountain Hike bus to Osugidani trailhead (approx. one and a half hours).
At the Odaigahara bus stop, take a Nara Kotsu bus to Kintetsu Yamato-Kamiichi station (approx. an hour and 58 minutes). From Kintetsu Yamato-Kamiichi station, take a Kintetsu Limited Express via Kashiharajingu-mae station to Tokaido Shinkansen Kyoto station (approx. 55 minutes).

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