Climbing Mount Mitsutoge

If you are yearning for a hike near Tokyo with a good view of Mount Fuji, Mount Mitsutoge will not disappoint.

Mount Mitsutoge is the collective name for the mountains in the town of Nishikatsura of Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. It includes Mount Kaiunzan (1,785 meters), Mount Osutaka (1,775 m) and Mount Kenashi (1,732 m). With the highest peak just below 2,000 meters and a panoramic view of Mount Fuji, the journey to this mountain ridge is an ideal hike for mountaineers of all ages and level.

The trek is usually done as traverse from Mitsutoge Station to Kawaguchiko Station (or reverse) passing the peaks of Mount Kaiunzan, Mount Kenashi and Mount Tenjen of Fujikawaguchiko.

For this trek, I started at Mitsutoge Station past noon, trekked for 3.5 hours to the mountain hut near the summit of Mount Mitsutoge, spent the night there and descended the following day on a 2-hour trek via Mount Tenjen leading to Kawaguchiko Station. The trek can be done as an easy day hike but there are two mountain lodges near the summit for those who prefer to stay overnight for sunset and sunrise.

How to Get to Mount Mitsutoge

Mitsutoge Station and Kawaguchiko Station in Yamanashi’s Minamitsuru District are the two usual starting points of the trek to Mount Mitsutoge.

Shinjuku Station to Mitsutoge Station

Cheapest (~2.5 hours | ~¥1710) :

• Train from Shinjuku to Takao (75 minutes | ¥390)
• Train from Takao to Otsuki (40 minutes | ¥590)
• Train from Otsuki to Mitsutoge (35 minutes | ¥730)

Fastest (~1.75 hours | ~¥3,090)

• Train from Shinjuku to Otsuki (70 minutes | ¥2,360)
• Train from Otsuki to Mitsutoge (35 minutes | ¥730)

Accommodation in Mount Mitsutoge

There are two mountain huts near the summit of Mount Mitsutoge for those who wish to spend a night in the mountain. Winter rate is ¥5,400/person/night without meal or ¥8,800/person/night with two (2) meals; non-winter rate is ¥5,000/person/night without meal and ¥8,400/person/night with two (2) meals. Reservation is not usually required.

• Mitsutoge Sansou Mountain Hut
• Shiki Rakuen Mountain Hut

Mount Mitsutoge Overnight Climb Itinerary

Day 1
0900H Train: Shinjuku to Takao
1020H Arrive in Takao
1100H Train: Takao to Otsuki
1142H Arrive in Otsuki
1200H Train: Otsuki to Mitsotouge
1237H Arrive in Mitsotouge / Start Trek
1600H Arrive in Mitsutoge Sanso Mountain Hut

Day 2
0500H Call time
0515H Start trek
0530H Arrive in Mount Mitsutoge Summit
0630H Back to hotel
0645H Arrive in hotel / Breakfast
0900H Start Descent
1030H Arrive in Mount Tenjo
1110H Arrive in Kawaguchiko Station
1150H Bus to Shinjuku
1340H Arrive in Shinjuku

Climb Expenses

Approximate Total: ~¥12,110