Mt.Jii-Gatake, Japanese Alps Mountains
< Distance : 14km Time : 8 hours Elevation Gain : 1,685m >
Region : Nagano, Japan
Date : September 14, 2019

I go day hiking in Japanese Alps Mountains every summer holidays.
I chose Mt.Jii-Gatake (Jii means old man in Japanese)at the north part of Alps Mountains this year and enjoyed stunning view from the summit.
Japanese Alps Mountains are in autumn season in ordinary September, but that day was so hot likes summer.

１.Departed from Ogisawa Station

I got hiking bus(Mainichi Alpen Bus, 5 hours ride, ¥7,000-8,500) from Shinjuku at midnight, arrived Ogisawa station, Nagano at 4A.M..
Ogisawa station is popular for tourists gateway to the Kurobe Dam and Tateyama mountains. We can use toilet and get fresh water at this station 24hours but shops are closed at night.

Heading to the gate to Mt.Jii-Gatake(15 minutes walk) at 5A.M. when I could see trails without headlamp.

２.Hike up the Kashiwabara Trail

Kashiwabara Trail is well-maintained by staffs of mountain lodge, so we can walk safely and comfortably.
Most of the trail is surrounded by woods but sometimes we can see beautiful Mt.Harinoki and other mountains.

At a dangerous point they put the caution board.

The trail changed to rocky at the altitude gets over 2,000m.

Beautiful flowers.

At this point we have to be careful falling rocks from the right side and don't slip to the left side.

Final steep path to the ridge.

３.Walking the ridge to the summit

I arrived the Taneike lodge at 8A.M.

Take a short rest at the lodge and head to the summit of Mt.Jii.

That day was no wind and hot but sometimes I could feel the autumn season by yellow leaves.

４.View from the summit

Mt.Jii has three summits, we can go the southern and central summit. At first I arrived the southern summit at 8:50.

View from the summit, Mt.Kashima-Yari.

Mt.Yari and Hotaka.

Mt.Tsurugi and Tateyama.

Mt.Fuji and Yatsugatake mountains.

Heading to another summit.

After 15 minutes walk, I arrived at the central summit.

The southern summit from central.

Mt.Tsurugi and Tateyama.

Mt.Kashima-Yari.

５.Hike down to Ogisawa Station

I really enjoyed stunning view from Mt.Jii. But unfortunately I had to go back to Tokyo on this day.

At 1P.M. arrived at Ogisawa station.
I had taken the bus to JR Shinano-Omachi station(35 minutes ride, ¥1,390) and got back to Tokyo by train(JR Express Azusa, 3-4hours. ¥7,390).