20 Mountains in Nagano worth your time

A 1,994-meter peak in the Shiga Highlands offering alpine botanical gardens and extensive ski slopes accessible by gondola.

What it is

• A mountain peak standing 1,994 meters high in the Shiga Highlands.
• The central hub of the Shiga Kogen ski area featuring numerous slopes.
• Home to the Higashidateyama Alpine Botanical Garden near the summit.
• A natural site surrounded by Mount Terakoya, Mount Nishidate, and Mount Shiga.

What to see

• Alpine plants and flowers growing in the high-altitude botanical garden.
• Panoramic views of the surrounding Nagano mountain ranges from the summit.
• Extensive networks of ski lifts and gondolas traversing the slopes.
• Diverse flora visible during the green season months.

When to go

• Visit during the green season to observe blooming alpine plants.
• Travel in winter to utilize the extensive network of ski slopes.

Getting there

• Take a bus from Yudanaka Station to Hoppo Onsen or Takamagahara.
• Ride the Higashidate Gondola Lift from Hoppo Onsen to the summit.
• Use the Takamagahara Line lift to reach the top from Takamagahara.

Read more about Mount Higashidate

A 2,841-meter peak in the Kiso Mountains featuring a granite summit, glacial cirque, and rare alpine ptarmigans.

What it is

• A 2,841-meter peak located within the Kiso Mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
• One of the mountains selected for the official list of Japan's 200 Famous Mountains.
• A key stop along the Kiso Mountains longitudinal trekking trail.
• A natural habitat where rare ptarmigans have been confirmed to live.

What to see

• A small shrine located near the granite peak of the mountain.
• The Suribachikubo Cirque situated on the eastern side of the mountain.
• A mountain hut standing within the basin of the Suribachikubo Cirque.
• The Hyakken Nagi area which is a site of ongoing mountain collapse.
• Snow patterns on the slopes that resemble five monks during the spring.

When to go

• Spring is the time to view the five monks snow patterns on the slopes.
• Advance reservations are required for those planning to stay in manned mountain huts.

Getting there

• The shortest climbing route to the peak starts from the Inagawa Dam.

Read more about Mount Minamikoma

A 2,599-meter peak in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park featuring a massive summit rock formation and a historic mountain shrine.

What it is

• A 2,599-meter mountain on the border of Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.
• One of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains located within a national park.
• Site of the Kinzakura Shrine main sanctuary and former quartz mining operations.
• A natural divide between two major river systems also known as Koshu Mitakesan.

What to see

• The Gojo-iwa, a massive and distinctive rock formation at the summit.
• The Kinzakura Shrine main sanctuary building located at the highest point.
• A zone of dwarf stone pines surrounding the summit area.
• Panoramic views from the peak across the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

When to go

• During the climbing season when bus services are operational.
• Daylight hours suitable for hiking the mountain trails.

Getting there

• Buses run to Mizugaki Sanso and Otarumi Pass during the climbing season.
• Hiking trails to the summit begin from Mizugaki Sanso and Kawakamidaira.

Read more about Mount Kinpu

A 2,009-meter peak in Shiga Highlands offering Olympic-grade skiing, high-altitude moors, and scenic gondola rides for hikers and nature lovers.

What it is

• A 2,009-meter mountain located within the Shiga Highlands of Nagano Prefecture.
• A former venue for alpine skiing events during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
• A natural site featuring high moors and an undeveloped western slope.

What to see

• Chigoike pond and high-altitude moors located at the mountain summit.
• The Yakebitaiyama and Okushiga Kogen ski areas on the eastern slopes.
• A seven kilometer hiking trail connecting Ichinose and Okushiga Kogen.
• Panoramic views from gondola lifts operating during summer and autumn.

When to go

• Autumn for the changing foliage visible from the operating gondola lifts.
• Winter for skiing on slopes used during the 1998 Olympic Games.
• Summer for hiking the trail between Ichinose and Okushiga Kogen.

Getting there

• Buses run directly to the mountain from Nagano Station.
• Local bus services connect the mountain to Yudanaka Station.

Read more about Mount Yakebitai

A 2,053-meter stratovolcano in Nagano offering protected wetlands, a summit shrine, and seasonal skiing within a national park.

What it is

• A 2,053-meter stratovolcano also known as Shinano Fuji in Nagano Prefecture.
• One of the Five Peaks of Northern Shinshu and a 200 Famous Japanese Mountain.
• Part of the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park with activity dating back 250,000 years.
• A protected natural area featuring wetlands between the outer rim and central cone.

What to see

• A summit shrine and a second-class triangulation point at the highest peak.
• Protected wetlands located between the outer rim and the central cone.
• The Kurohime Kogen Snow Park situated on the eastern slope of the mountain.
• The Sasa-ga-mine Dam located 6.8 kilometers northwest of the summit.

When to go

• Climbing season begins with opening ceremonies held in mid-June.
• Winter months for skiing and snowboarding at the eastern slope snow park.

Getting there

• The mountain is located 6.3 kilometers west of Kurohime Station.

Read more about Mount Kurohime

The highest peak of Kirigamine offering a mountain shrine, seasonal skiing, and hiking trails through scenic highland wetlands.

What it is

• The highest peak of the Kirigamine area reaching 1,925 meters in elevation.
• A designated Lover's Sanctuary regional heritage site on the border of Chino and Suwa.
• A multi-use highland area featuring a ski park, museum, and tennis courts.
• Home to a weather radar observation station that has operated since 1999.

What to see

• Kurumayama Shrine located at the summit surrounded by four distinct pillars.
• Nikko-kisuge lilies blooming prominently across the highland landscape.
• Hiking trails connecting the mountain peak to the Yashimagahara Wetlands.
• Panoramic views from the summit accessible by lifts during the summer season.

When to go

• July to see the yellow Nikko-kisuge lilies in bloom.
• October for the French Blue Meeting car event.
• Winter season for skiing at the Kurumayama Highland Ski Park.
• Every seven years to witness the Onbashira Festival held at the summit.

Read more about Kurumayama

A 2,076-meter lava dome in the Shiga Highlands offering panoramic views and a summit shrine for hikers.

What it is

• A 2,076-meter lava dome located on the border of Yamanouchi and Takayama
• A prominent symbol of the Shiga Highlands listed among Japan's 300 famous mountains
• The site of the Sano Shrine inner shrine located at the summit
• A geological formation composed primarily of pyroxene andesite

What to see

• The inner shrine of Sano Shrine situated at the mountain peak
• Panoramic views of the Northern Alps and Mount Asama from the summit
• Wild lingonberries and rhododendrons blooming along the mountain slopes
• The distinct shape of the volcanic lava dome

When to go

• Summer months to see the blooming rhododendrons and lingonberries

Getting there

• A seven kilometer hiking trail begins at the Hotaru Onsen bus stop
• The summit is a one hour hike from Touge-no-Chaya
• Note that the original climbing route on the north ridge is currently closed

Read more about Mount Kasa

A rugged 2,416-meter peak in the Hida Mountains known for its crumbling ridges and challenging, trail-free alpine climbing routes.

What it is

• A 2,416-meter mountain peak located on the Io Ridge in the Hida Mountains.
• A sharp and crumbling peak situated within Omachi City in Nagano Prefecture.
• A group of jagged summits known as the Aka-dake Gendarme.
• A geothermal site featuring active fumaroles around the 2,086-meter mark.

What to see

• Sharp and crumbling rock formations along the main mountain ridge.
• The distinct group of jagged peaks called the Aka-dake Gendarme.
• Active volcanic fumaroles emitting steam near the lower 2,086-meter peak.

When to go

• Winter months for experienced climbers attempting to traverse the Io Ridge.

Getting there

• Start the climb from Shinhotaka Onsen to reach the mountain area.
• Access the peak via Yumata Onsen and the Mizumata River routes.
• Approach the summit using variation routes as there are no established hiking trails.

Read more about Mount Aka

A 2,760-meter peak in Nagano featuring dramatic cliffs, alpine flora, and mountain huts within a quasi-national park.

What it is

• A 2,760-meter mountain peak located in the Yatsugatake Mountains of Nagano Prefecture
• Part of the Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park spanning Chino and Minamimaki
• A high-altitude destination featuring a forest limit at approximately 2,600 meters
• A summit area characterized by steep cliffs on both sides of the peak

What to see

• Steep cliff faces located on both sides of the summit area
• Subalpine coniferous forests growing below the 2,600-meter forest limit
• Diverse alpine plants growing near the Io-dake Sanso mountain hut
• A Geospatial Information Authority triangulation point located near the peak
• The Io-dake Sanso mountain hut situated near the summit
• Hutte Natsuzawa and Yamabiko-so huts located at Natsuzawa Pass

Getting there

• Hiking trails connect to the mountain from Minoto via the Akadake Kosen hot spring

Read more about Mount Iō

A 2,296-meter peak in the Kiso Mountains featuring stone Buddhas and the highest elevation of any Japanese mountain named Kyo.

What it is

• A 2,296-meter peak located at the northern end of the Kiso Mountains.
• One of the 200 Remarkable Mountains of Japan.
• The highest mountain in Japan with the word Kyo in its name.
• The source for several tributaries of the Tenryu River.

What to see

• Stone Buddhas and stone towers enshrined at the summit.
• Coniferous forests of Shirabiso trees covering the peak.
• A second-class triangulation point located at the highest point.
• A restored climbing route accessible from the Gonbei Pass.

When to go

• May for the annual walking competition held by a local junior high school.
• The Kyo-ga-take Vertical Limit trail race held annually since 2015.

Getting there

• Chusen-ji Temple in Ina City serves as a common trailhead for climbers.
• Access the mountain via the hiking route starting from Gonbei Pass.

Read more about Mount Kyō

A 733-meter mountain park in Nagano featuring a memorial to a major 1985 landslide and panoramic city views.

What it is

• A 733-meter mountain in northwest Nagano City that was once home to an amusement park.
• The site of a massive 1985 landslide that destroyed sixty buildings and caused twenty-six deaths.
• Bousai Memorial Jizukiyama Park, opened in 2004 to commemorate the disaster and provide public space.
• A location containing the Jizukiyama Kofun burial mound near the mountain summit.

What to see

• A landslide data museum documenting the events and impact of the 1985 disaster.
• An observation deck providing views of the surrounding Nagano area.
• Remnants of the former Togakushi Bird Line toll road and Zenkoji Ropeway area.
• The memorial park grounds built over five million cubic meters of moved earth.

When to go

• Visit during the daytime as the park closes at night.
• Plan your trip outside of the winter season when the park is closed.

Read more about Mount Jizuki

A 2,730-meter peak in the Kiso Mountains known for its shogi-piece shape, alpine flowers, and historic stone mountain hut.

What it is

• A 2,730-meter peak located in the Kiso Mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
• The mountain is named for its physical resemblance to a shogi playing piece.
• A site of historical significance following a major climbing accident in 1913.
• The summit serves as a drainage point for the Tenryu and Kiso Rivers.

What to see

• Colonies of Dicentra peregrina alpine flowers growing on the mountain slopes.
• The Nishikoma Sanso stone hut, a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property built in 1915.
• A memorial monument located south of the summit dedicated to the 1913 disaster.
• Gyojaiwa, a sharp granite rock formation situated near the mountain peak.
• The Tenmeisui spring located in the vicinity of the Nishikoma Sanso hut.

Getting there

• The Katsurakoba trailhead offers a route suitable for a day-trip climb to the summit.

Read more about Mount Shōgigashira

A 2,524-meter peak in the Yatsugatake range offering rocky summit views and historic trails used since the 16th century.

What it is

• A 2,524-meter mountain located at the southernmost end of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
• Designated as part of a quasi-national park in 1964.
• One of the Yamanashi 100 Mountains and a source for the Fuji River.
• Site of a 16th-century signal fire platform on the Noroshiba peak.

What to see

• A stone-covered summit area located above the forest limit.
• The historic Bo-michi road established by Takeda Shingen at the western foot.
• Mountain trails connecting the peak toward Mount Gongen.
• Panoramic views from the high-elevation rocky peak.

When to go

• The access road to the trailhead is closed during the winter season.

Getting there

• Climbing routes are accessible from Kobuchizawa Station and Shinano-sakai Station.
• The Kannondaira parking lot is reachable via a prefectural road.

Read more about Mount Amigasa

A 2,112-meter peak in Nagano offering 360-degree views and listed as one of Japan's 200 Famous Mountains.

What it is

• A 2,112-meter mountain spanning Kitaaiki and Minamiaiki villages in Nagano Prefecture.
• Part of the Kanto Mountains located on the regional border.
• Recognized as one of Japan's 200 Famous Mountains.
• Initially misidentified as the site of a 1985 plane crash.

What to see

• A long narrow rocky area located at the summit.
• Full 360-degree panoramic views from the top of the mountain.
• Rhododendrons blooming near the observatory area.
• The actual 1985 crash site located 8.7 kilometers away in Gunma.

When to go

• Visit in June to see the rhododendrons in bloom near the observatory.

Getting there

• Access the mountain via Nagano Prefectural Road 2 from Koumi.
• One trailhead is located near the Kuryu bus stop.
• Two additional trailheads are situated within Kitaaiki Village.

Read more about Mount Ogura

A 1,955-meter peak in Nagano offering diverse marshes, mountain biking trails, and a space debris tracking observatory.

What it is

• A 1,955-meter mountain marking the northern end of the Akaishi Mountains in Nagano.
• A recreational area featuring the Oahara and Nyukasa marshes and a mountain resort.
• Home to a JAXA optical observatory that tracks space debris and asteroids.
• A working landscape where cattle graze on the western slopes from spring to autumn.

What to see

• A second-class triangulation point located at the mountain summit.
• The Fujimi Panorama Resort situated on the northeastern slope.
• An Asian-scale mountain bike downhill course for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Five mountain huts located near the marshes and the ranch area.
• The JAXA optical observatory facility near the summit.

When to go

• Spring to autumn to see cattle grazing on the western side.
• April to November when private car restrictions are in effect.

Read more about Mount Nyūkasa

A 2,375-meter peak in the Kiso Mountain Range known for its distinct shape and coniferous forest summit.

What it is

• A mountain peak standing 2,375 meters above sea level in Nagano Prefecture.
• Part of the Kiso Mountain Range bordering Shiojiri City and Kiso Town.
• Also known as Mount Eboshi because of its specific physical shape.
• A natural site where rainwater feeds into the Narai and Nogake Rivers.

What to see

• A second-class triangulation point located at the highest point of the summit.
• Dense coniferous trees covering the top of the mountain.
• Geological layers of Mesozoic hard sandstone and argillite soil.
• Views of the mountain profile from National Route 19.
• Nearby peaks including Mount Mizusawa, Mount Chausu, and Mount Shogidashira.

When to go

• Visible year-round from the surrounding valley and national highway.
• Note that there are no established hiking trails for reaching the summit.

Read more about Mount Ōdanairi

A 1,963-meter peak in Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park featured in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains for its unique twin summits.

What it is

• A 1,963.2-meter mountain located on the border of Nagano and Niigata prefectures.
• Part of the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park and the Kubiki Mountain Range.
• Included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains by author Kyuya Fukada.

What to see

• A twin-peak summit popularly known as the Cat's Ears.
• Stone Buddha statues located along the north peak of the mountain.
• A second-class triangulation point situated on the south peak.
• A trail from the south peak that resembles the profile of a woman.

When to go

• Autumn is a popular season, though local authorities may implement entry restrictions.

Getting there

• Public buses and shared taxis provide access to the mountain trailheads.
• Trailheads are located at Amakazari Onsen and Amakazari Kogen Campground.

Read more about Mount Amakazari

A 2,763-meter granite peak in Chubu Sangaku National Park known for unique rock formations and alpine wildlife.

What it is

• A 2,763-meter mountain located within the Hida Mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
• Part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park featuring granite and weathered rock formations.
• The starting point of the popular Omote Ginza hiking route.
• Named for spring snow patterns that resemble the shape of swallows.

What to see

• Weathered granite rock formations located across the mountain body.
• Wild Dicentra peregrina flowers and rock ptarmigans inhabiting the slopes.
• The Enzanso mountain hut situated directly on the ridge line.
• Kita-Tsubakuro Peak located 700 meters north of the main summit.
• The summit area which is designated as a special protection zone.

Getting there

• The main trailhead begins at Nakabusa Hot Springs.
• Access to the ridge involves a major steep climb via Kassen Ridge.

Read more about Mount Tsubakuro

An active volcanic peak in the northern Yatsugatake Mountains offering high-altitude hiking trails and unique natural phenomena like striped dead trees.

What it is

• A small volcano formed by lava flows in the northern Yatsugatake Mountains.
• An active volcano designated by the Japan Meteorological Agency in 2003.
• A mountain featuring two distinct peaks reaching up to 2,480 meters in elevation.
• Part of the Pilatus Tateshina Snow Resort area.

What to see

• A natural phenomenon of striped dead trees visible on the mountain slopes.
• Dwarf stone pines growing throughout the Tsuboniwa area.
• A triangulation point located on the 2,471.6 meter southern peak.
• Hiking trails connecting the summit to the Kikko and Futago ponds.
• Two mountain huts named Shimagare Sanso and Kitayokodake Hutte.
• Panoramic views from the northern peak at 2,480 meters.

Getting there

• The Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway provides direct access to the Tsuboniwa area.

Read more about Mount Kitayoko

A 1,811-meter peak in the Atera Mountains featuring a virgin forest, alpine plants, and a three-story summit observation tower.

What it is

• A 1,811-meter mountain listed among the 300 Famous Japanese Mountains.
• Part of the Urakiso Prefectural Natural Park in the Atera Mountains.
• Formerly a private forest belonging to the Owari Domain.
• A natural source for rivers flowing into the Kiso River system.

What to see

• A three-story observation tower located at the mountain summit.
• Virgin forests of rhododendrons and spruce trees near the peak.
• Kagami Pond featuring communities of sphagnum moss and skunk cabbage.
• Ryujin Shrine which hosts an annual local festival.

When to go

• The fourth Sunday of April for the festival at Ryujin Shrine.

Getting there

• The maintained climbing route begins at Yumori Park.
• The summit is located 12.1 kilometers north of Sakashita Station.

Read more about Mount Okusangai