By: Paul Koehler
Where: On the border of Nagano and Gifu PrefecturesWhat: Japan’s second tallest volcano and one of its holiest mountains. Ontake-san is popular with pilgrims and climbers alike.
How: By limited express train from Kiso-Fukushima Station and by bus to Tanohara.
While Mount Fuji is the most famous destination for most mountain climbers in Japan, there are many others to choose from. The Chubu Region has many of these mountains, and one of the best locations is Ontake-san on the border of Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. The mountain is 3067m tall and is also one of the holiest mountains of Japan. Despite the height it is relatively easy mountain to climb and is accessible from Nagoya either as a long day trip or a multi-day stay depending on your itinerary.
The history of the mountain goes back to the first known climb in 702 during the Asuka period, while Ontake Shrine was established in 925. As such it is a popular destination for pilgrims, who make regular visits to the mountain wearing traditional garb. For climbers it is also an extremely popular destination as it is possible to get to the summit in a little under four hours.
Ontake-san can be accessed from either the Nagano side or Gifu side, but for visitors from Nagoya, the most convenient access will probably be to start from Tanohara Nature Park. The park is situated at an altitude of 2180m and can be accessed by bus from Kiso-Fukushima station on the JR Chuo Line. The route to the park is a very windy road through the mountains, but the scenery on the way there makes up for the trip.
The trail to the top of the mountain from the Tanohara Nature Park initially leads to the first summit, Outaki Choujou, at 2936m, and an additional climb of 30 minutes from that summit leads to the very top of the mountain, known as Ontake Kengamine. This is the main destination for most climbers, although there are several lakes around other parts of the mountain. Accommodation is available in small mountain huts on the mountain or at inns near the mountain for those wishing to make a multiple day trip, and there are several hot springs around the area where you can relax after a difficult climb.
One of the most appealing points about climbing Ontake-san is the relative isolation of the mountain. While climbers tackling the summit of Mount Fuji often come to a standstill while waiting behind a long line of people, the paths of Ontake-san are relatively open even during the busy climbing season. The mountain is also host to the Ontake Sky Race, which hosts high-altitude runners attempting to tackle the summit and come back in record time. If you enjoy mountain climbing and would like to do it in a beautiful environment, Ontake-san is one of the best choices not only in the Chubu Region, but also in all of Japan.
