(平ヶ岳) Hiragatake Hike

First time did I encounter a required stay at a Japanese inn to do a hike. Also a first to see a bear (a baby!). Encounter lasted 2 seconds though.

Budget: JPY34,620 (~USD230)

JPY12,000. Bullet train, Tokyo < > Urasa Station, with 30% discount
JPY1,620. Bus, Urasa Station < > Ginzan-daira
JPY18,000ish. Required stay at Okutadami-sansou for the shuttle.
JPY3,000. Shuttle, hut to trailhead

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,141m / 7,024ft)

Hike Date : August 23-24, 2025
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Route below is around 8.6 kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,024/ ▽1,014m
Map Link

When to Go
From June to October. Outside of those times, there maybe no access - both via personal vehicle and public transportation.

Special Notes

Weather check: Japanese / English.
Trailheads.

Hotel drop off via Okutadami-sansou (奥只見山荘). Google maps pin here. Multiple huts in the area offer drop off - this is the one I used. Basically on the days that there are shuttles, they will drop you off at 5:30am, and you have to be back by 12:30pm. They will leave with or without you. You can leave your things at the van, so for people who sweat a lot / want to take a swim, I would recommend bringing a change of clothes.

Accommodations start at JPY12,000, no meals, with a minimum of two people/room. They do accept solo travelers with an extra JPY3,000 premium. Reservations here.

The shuttle runs from July to October, calendar of their open days here.

Access: Take note of the bus schedule - there's only one going to the hut.

Train, Tokyo Station to Urasa Station.

Bullet train, JPY8,540, 88minutes one way.
Local trains, JPY4,070, 273minutes one way, or JPY2,410 using Seishun 18 ticket.

Bus, Urasa Station (浦佐駅) to Ginzan-daira (銀山平), JPY1,200 one way, schedule here. Only two buses : 07:45 and 13:40. From the bus stop, the hut owner will pick you up.

Hiragatake-tozanguchi (平ヶ岳登山口). Google maps pin. Very very difficult, only attempt if you have a car.

Access:

Train, Tokyo Station to Urasa Station
Bus, Urasa Station to Okutadami-Dam (same bus as that going to Okutadami-Sansou above), JPY950 one way.
Bus, Okutadami-Dam (奥只見ダム) to Oze-guchi (尾瀬口), JPY1,1500.
Bus, Oze-guchi (尾瀬口) to Hiragatake-tozanguchi (平ヶ岳登山口), JPY380. Reservations needed at 025-792-7300.

Website here, look for "80 尾瀬口船着場". I can't find the schedule as of now (Jan 2021)

Mountain huts.

Paid. None
Free. None
Camping. None

Itinerary
Saturday

10:00am. Train to Urasa Station. Arrived at Urasa Station, slow lunch.
01:40pm. Bus, Urasa Station to Okutadami Sansou.
02:35pm. Arrived at 白光岩. Basically we were supposed to stop at 銀山平 (Ginzandaira) but the hut owner has already called us from the bus.
02:40pm. Arrived at Okutadami Sansou. We had a quick briefing on the schedule for the next day and had to sign some waivers.

Sunday

03:50am. Shuttle, Okutadami Sansou to trailhead.
05:20am. Arrived at trailhead. Start hike.
08:12am. Arrived at summit. Took a nap.
11:36am. Back at trailhead. They sell beer, cut noodles and fireworks (why?) at the trailhead as most people who finish early still have to wait for 12:30. This is why we took a nap at the summit instead.
12:15pm. Started driving back at the hut. We left a bit earlier since everyone in our shuttle were there.
05:15pm. Shuttle to the bus stop.
05:27pm. Bus to Urasa Station.
06:53pm. Train to Tokyo Station.