(燧ヶ岳) Mt. Hiuchi Hike

The hike will be a race against time if it is done as a dayhike, but that’ll save you the JPY6,000 for the mountain hut. Oh, and there’s two Mt. Hiuchi in the Hundred Famous Mountains, so be careful.

Budget: JPY8,400 (~USD79)

• JPY4,200. Bus from Tokyo to Oshimizu.
• JPY4,200. Bus from Oshimizu to Tokyo.

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,356m /7,730ft)

• Not yet. It may be doable as a dayhike, but the public transportation restrictions make it very difficult.
• Difficulty: 5 out of 5.
• Route below is around 24.4kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1736m/ ▽1737m
• Map Link
• Itinerary if doing the hike with Mt. Shibutsu (至仏山).

When to Go

Hiking generally is around May to early November, but buses only run from July to October. Recommended to go in autumn though, which is late September to early October. Not recommended during winter given the risks (avalanche, etc)

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: Japanese / English
• There are multiple trailheads to choose from, that I am so confused so below is the map to summarize the main four places. 
• Oshimizu (大清水). There’s a direct bus from Shinjuku at JPY3800. You can book at Japan Bus Online, key in From: “Shinjuku Tokyo Area”, To: “Oze Tokura Gunma Area”. Just look for the bus that has “Oshimizu” on it. The price can range from JPY2,400 to JPY4,200, depending on the time and schedule. You can only book a month in advance, then the tickets sell out quite quickly. There are only a couple of buses:
• To Oshimizu (大清水)
• Departure: 06:35am – Arrival: 11:15am
• Departure: 07:15am – Arrival: 11:30am
• Departure: 10:00pm – Arrival: 03:50am
• From Oshimizu (大清水)
• Departure: 01:10pm – Arrival: 05:45pm
• Departure: 03:10pm – Arrival: 07:30pm
• *From Oze Takura: Departure: 02:30pm – Arrival: 06:45pm
• Hatomachitoge (鳩待峠). No direct buses from Tokyo, so you’ll have to go to Ozetokura (尾瀬戸倉) first, then take the bus to Hatomachitoge (35min, JPY1000). As a rule, for weekends, these are the buses:
• Bus schedule, Ozetokura (尾瀬戸倉) < > Hatomachitoge (鳩待峠)
• Ozetokura (尾瀬戸倉) ⇔ Tokyo (東京) , the bus from Oshimizu (大清水) to Tokyo above applies. Ozetokura is the station before Oshimizu.
• Numayamatoge (沼山峠). Transport availability and schedule changes every year based on the plan, so check this bus company. It is called "尾瀬夜行23:55" as the train leaves at 11:55pm. .
• For 2020, I sent them an email and they said there will be special night train from August 1st.
• One way fare is at JPY6,100, and will arrive at Numayamatoge at 6:10am.

• Mountain Huts. 
• Paid: Plenty of mountain huts to choose from, here's just one of the few:
• Near the lake, Chozogoya (長蔵小屋), over 120 years old which is pretty cool, at least for me. Reservations can be made online, and is at JPY9000 for two meals, JPY6,000 for none.
• Shibutsusan-sansou (至仏山山荘) costs JPY6,000 without meals, and for 2020, even people camping are required to reserve online.
• Oze-hiuchigoya (尾瀬燧ケ岳小屋) requires phone reservations at 090-9749-1319.
• Free: None.
• Camping: 
• Ozenuma Hut (尾瀬沼ヒュッテ) Reservations here.

Itinerary

*The itinerary below requires you to beat the Japanese map time estimates to catch the last bus. If, by your experience, you can’t beat that time, then I suggest staying the night at one of the lodges.

Friday

• 10:00pm. Depart from Shinjuku Station to Oshimizu (大清水)

Saturday

• 03:50am. Arrive at 大清水 Station, start hike.
• 09:40am. ETA: Summit. You’ll have to go down to Sanpeishita (三平下), and you can backtrail or go through the other route (additional 30minutes). If you are NOT at the summit by 9:39am, then I suggest backtrailing, else you miss the bus.
• 01:10pm. ETA: Sanpeishita (三平下), assuming the loop trail was taken. If you are not here by 1:00pm, you are NOT making the bus.
• 03:15pm. ETA: Oshimizu (大清水) Bus Stop. Now, this is at 3:15, while the bus leaves at 3:10pm
• 03:10pm. Bus, Oshimizu to Tokyo.
• 05:45pm. Arrival, Tokyo.