(空木岳) Mt. Utsugi Hike

 

Another hyakumeizan.

Budget: JPY7,620 (~USD74)

• JPY4,820. Roundtrip train fare, assuming use of Seishun 18 ticket. (2 days' worth)
• JPY380. Bus, Komagane Station -> Komagaike
• JPY1,370. Ropeway (Shirabidaira Station) down. 
• JPY1,050. Bus, Ropeway to Komagane Station

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,864m / 9,396ft)

• 2021
• Difficulty: 4 out of 5
• Route below is around 21.8kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲3,576m/ ▽1,740m
• PDF Map Link 

When to Go

Anytime during the year, as the buses run even in winter.

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: English / Japanese.
• Trailhead: Komagaike (駒ヶ池 )
• Train, Tokyo to Komagane Station. No matter what I choose, be it express or local, if I leave on a Saturday, the earliest I can get at Komagane Station is 11:07am. (one way details)
• Express train. JPY7,060, 265 minutes.
• Local train. JPY4,510, 384 minutes. Take note that the Seishun 18 ticket can be used.
• Bus, Komagane Station to Komagaike (駒ヶ池) . Bus schedule is here. It runs even in winter, but instead of every 30 minutes, it departs every hour. The time of the first bus also changes depending on the date - it can be as early as 5am, with winter departures at 8am. The ride one way is about 11minutes, and will cost JPY380.
• Mountain huts. There are quite a lot of mountain huts, and one camping area.
• Paid: 木曽殿山荘 . The hut converts into an emergency hut during winter season. 
• Free: 空木岳避難小屋. About 2.5 hours from the summit, with a usage fee of JPY1,000. 
• Camping: None. 

Itinerary
Saturday

• 04:30amish. Departure from Tokyo (if local. You can leave around 06:30ish if with express ones)
• If coming from Tokyo area and leaving Friday night, will have to leave at 5:34pm at the latest, to arrive at 11:36pm Friday night.
• 11:07am. ETA: Komagane Station.
• 11:30am. Bus, Komagane Station to Komagaike.
• 11:41am. ETA: Komagaike. 
• 12:00pm. Start hike. 
• 05:30pm. ETA: Emergency hut. Stay for the night. 

Sunday

• 04:00am. Start hike. 
• 05:00am. ETA: Mt. Utsugi Summit. Backtrail OR traverse to Kisokomagatake. In this case, traverse to Kisokomagatake. 
• 02:05pm. ETA: Kisokomagatake. 
• 03:25pm. ETA: Top of the ropeway.