Trekking guide from Inawashiro Tozanguchi (Trailhead) to Mt. Bandaisan
Inawashiro Tozanguchi in Bandai Asahi National Park is the most popular point to start trekking of Mt. Bandaisan, one of the best hundred mountains in Japan.
Enjoy walking through Numanodaira moor full of alpine plants, looked upon by Mt. Bandaisan, Mt. Akahaniyama, and Mt. Kushigamine with Lake Inawashiro below your eyes. This lake is the forth low-lying lake in Japan, and also known as Lake Tenkyo-ko, "beautiful lake of heaven mirror." Inawashiro Tozanguchi route is the only way to enjoy these magnificent views.
Enjoy walking through Numanodaira moor full of alpine plants, looked upon by Mt. Bandaisan, Mt. Akahaniyama, and Mt. Kushigamine with Lake Inawashiro below your eyes. This lake is the forth low-lying lake in Japan, and also known as Lake Tenkyo-ko, "beautiful lake of heaven mirror." Inawashiro Tozanguchi route is the only way to enjoy these magnificent views.
Summer lift for climbers(Up and down rides are possible)
The summer climbing lift will be open from Saturday, July 15, 2023.
Ski lift is available for climbers during the summer. It takes you to altitude 1,100m in 20 minutes. Since it is only 2-hour trekking in total to the summit. You can ride the lift both up and down, so it is also recommended for beginners.
Operation hours:Jul 15, 2023 (Sat) - Oct 29, 2023 (Sun) *Weekends & Holidays Only
*Every day from Saturday July 22 to Thursday August 31 in 2023.
*The operation is subject to change or suspend due to weather conditions and other factors.
Place: No. 1 Quad in Base Slope and No. 6 Pair in Sky Slope at Inawashiro Ski Resort
Operation hours: No. 1 Quad 7:30-14:30, No. 6 Pair 7:30-14:10
However, from Saturday, August 11, 2023 to Sunday, August 20, 2023, we will be open during the following hours (extended hours).
No. 1 Quad 7:30-16:00, No. 6 Pair 7:30-15:40
*The operation may be changed without notice. Please confirm the operation status before you visit us.
*The standard time required for mountain climbing is just a guide and may vary from person to person.
*Please plan according to your own physical strength and experience, and prepare sufficient equipment and personal belongings according to the route and weather conditions.
Summer lift fare (one way)
| Fare table | One-time fee | Connected ride (two time rides) fare |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (junior high student or above) | 800 yen (incl. tax) | 1,600 yen (incl. tax) |
| Children (elementary school students) | 600 yen (incl. tax) | 1,200 yen (incl. tax) |
| Preschool children (4 year and older) Applicable for one child per adult |
300 yen (incl. tax) | 600 yen (incl. tax) |
| Pet (One adult must accompany per pet, or per cage) |
600 yen (incl. tax) | 1,200 yen (incl. tax) |
- *Pet cage width/depth/height must be 60cm or less respectively in order to be securely seated on the lift chair.
- *Regardless of the cage size, we may have to reject your pet ride subject to pet/cage conditions or at the discretion of the lift operators.
Three Bandai mountains (Mt. Bandaisan, Mt. Akahaniyama, Mt. Kushigamine) watching over alpine plants on Numanodaira moor
Mt. Bandaisan, Mt. Akahaniyama, and Mt. Kushigamine watching over Numanodaira moor
Alpine plants: Thunberg's fleabane
Alpine plants：Showy orchis
Alpine plants: Japanese alpine perennial of the rose family
It is the most accessible trailhead to reach by cars and trains. Car parking for 2,000 vehicles are available.If you have a camper van, we also recommend to spend the night at RV park.
You can enjoy hot spring spa (villa Inawashiro , 700 yen for adults (junior high school students and above),500 yen for children, open 6:00-9:00, 14:00-16:00, 21:00-23:30) after trekking. A wonderful bonus only available at Inawashiro Tozanguchi route!
You can enjoy hot spring spa (villa Inawashiro , 700 yen for adults (junior high school students and above),500 yen for children, open 6:00-9:00, 14:00-16:00, 21:00-23:30) after trekking. A wonderful bonus only available at Inawashiro Tozanguchi route!
Inawashiro Tozanguchi route
Show in a bigger map ←You can check other trailheads and trekking routs.
Overview of Mt. Bandaisan trekking routs
| Trailheads | Overview of trailheads | Access | Car parking capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inawashiro Tozanguchi trailhead | The most popular trekking route to Mt. Bandaisan to enjoy alpine plants around you and Inawashiroko Lake below your eyes |
<By car> Head for Inawashiro Ski Resort from Inawashiro Bandai Kogen IC of the Tohoku Expressway or the National Route 115 or Prefectural Highway 7. Car parking of the Inawashiro Ski Resort is available. <By taxi> About 1,500 yen (3.5 km) from JR Inawashiro Station to Inawashiro Ski Resort |
2,000 cars |
| Urabandai Tozanguchi trailhead | A route to witness a completely different face of the Mt. Bandai-a wild eruption wall of volcano |
<By bus> Take a bus for Urabandai Kogen station from JR Inawashiro station. Walk 60 mins from the last stop to Urabandai Ski Resort. <By car> Follow the National Route 459 and head for Hibarako lake. Turn left just before the Bandaisan Gold Line Entry (you can see ski resort sign) and reach Urabandai Ski Resort car parking. |
500 cars |
| Sibutani Tozanguchi trailhead | A wonderful route for forest bathing in the deep woodland |
<By bus> Take a bus for Urabandai Kogen station from JR Inawashiro station. From Kokusai Ski-jo Iriguchi bus stop, walk up the slop to ski resort (a sign shows Shibutani Tozanguchi trailhead). Follow the maintenance road across the ski slope, and take a forestry road that leads to the Bandaisan trail road. <By car> Ski resort car parking is available. |
Very few parking available, be careful when crowded |
| Kawakami Tozanguchi route | A steep route to climb up the towering peak through a majestic tree zone to reach a wild volcano crater. |
<By bus> Take a bus for Urabandai Kogen station from JR Inawashiro station. From Kawakami Onsen bus stop, walk toward Urabandai for about 500m until you see the trailhead sign. <By car> Follow the National Route 459 until you see "Yamano-eki Shokudo" diner. Car parking is available in front of Kawakami Tozanguchi trailhead sign. |
Very few parking available, be careful when crowded |
| Okinashima Tozanguchi trailhead | An extremely steep route with scree slopes for climbers confident in their physical strength |
No bus is avilable, car/tax access only <By car> Follow the National Route 7 and head for Showanomori. Car parking is available in front of Okinashima Tozanguchi trailhead sign. |
70 cars |
| Happoudai Tozanguchi trailhead | A relatively easy route for beginners with less elevation between the trailhead and the summit (on the other hand, the route lacks variety and scenery). |
No bus is avilable, car/tax access only <By taxi>About 8,000 yen (26.5km) from JR Bandai station, about 4,500 yen (15km) from JR Bandaimachi station |
50 cars, be careful when crowded |
*Mobile phones may be difficult or impossible to reach in the following areas.
- Part of Numanodaira
- Happoudai Tozanguchi trailhead (from trailhead to before Koboshimizu poit)
- Shibutani Tozanguchi trailhead (Numanodaira from Bandai x 2)
- Urabandai Tozanguchi trailhead (Akanuma pond and just before Koboshimizu poit)
Standard trekking time
| trekking course | Up | Down |
|---|---|---|
| Inawashiro Tozanguchi trailhead | About 2 hours (with lift travel) About 3.5 hours (without lift travel) |
About 1 hour 40 mins (with lift travel) About 2.5 hours (without lift travel) |
| Urabandai Tozanguchi trailhead (via Nakanoyu) | About 3 hours 50 mins | About 3 hours |
| Shibutani Tozanguchi trailhead | About 3 hours 40 mins | About 2 hours 50 mins |
| Kawakami Tozanguchi trailhead | About 4 hours | About 2 hours 50 mins |
| Okinashima Tozanguchi trailhead | About 3.5 hours | About 2.5 hours |
| Happoudai Tozanguchi trailhead | About 2 hours 15 mins | About 1 hour and 40 mins |
*The standard time required for mountain climbing is just a guide and may vary from person to person.
*Please plan according to your own physical strength and experience, and prepare sufficient equipment and personal belongings according to the route and weather conditions.
What is Mt. Bandaisan?
Mt. Bandaisan is an active volcano with an elevation of 1,816 meters which extends over three towns of Inawashiromachi, Bandaimachi, and Kitashiobaramura in Fukushima Prefecture, with six trailheads to attack its summit (Inawashiro Tozanguchi, Urabandai Tozanguchi, Shibutani Tozanguchi, Kawakami Tozanguchi, Happoudai Tozanguchi, and Okinashima Tozanguchi). It was recognized as a Japan geo park in 2011 and is considered as one of the symbols of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tohoku region including Aizu (the west part of Fukushima). That is why the mountain is also known as Aizu Fuji (Mt. Fuji in Aizu region) or Mt. Aizu-Bandaisan. The mountain has three peaks: Bandaisan (1,816m), Akahaniyama (1,430m), and Kushigamine (1,636m), which are collectively called Mt. Bandaisan. The south foot of the mountain is called Omote (front) Bandai and the north foot Ura (back) Bandai.
Mt. Bandaisan Charter
Mt. Bandaisan was formerly called "Iwahashiyama," meaning "a ladder of rocks hanging in the sky," because of its beautiful and majestic appearance, and has been the object of mountain worship faith since ancient times. It even appears in the Manyoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry as "Aizune" (crest of Aizu) or "Aizu Fuji." Because of its grand and noble figure, the mountain is widely revered by the people of Aizu as the birthplace of Aizu's Buddhist culture represented by historic remains of Enichiji temple. It is still considered to be sacred and spiritual center for the people of Aizu to this day.
The most recent eruption was in 1888 (Meiji 21) which caused a rock avalanche that took away more than 470 people, and at the same time, left numerous beautiful ponds including Goshikinuma that now embraces a wide variety of lives and attracts visitors with its beauty and scholars with its academic value highly regarded.
Mt. Bandaisan provides us a beautiful scenery, abundant water resources, hot springs, and many other blessings which were deeply appreciated by our ancestors as the base of fruitful and warm lifestyle and culture. However, the beautiful nature of the mountain has been damaged by the modern lifestyles and leisure activities. Once damaged by humans, the precious nature takes many years to restore.
Mt. Bandaisan is truly "a mountain of treasure" as sung in an ancient folk song. It is a wonderful place in terms of its nature, scenery, history, and culture. It is a precious asset to be handed down to the future generations. For these reasons, we must take pride in the nature, landscape, history, and culture of the mountain, protect nature, prevent volcanic disasters, take own initiative to think what each of us can do, and realize a harmony between the nature and human beings. Now we declare that Mt. Bandaisan is an asset and a treasure for local residents. We promise to come together with love for the mountain, join hands to protect and make a good use of it in a rightful way. We will have a strong determination to worship and take pride in the mountain and hand it down to future. For these purpose, three towns of Inawashiromachi, Bandaimachi, and Kitashiobaramura establish "Charter of Mt. Bandaisan."
Let us learn about the nature, history and culture of Mt. Bandaisan and get to know it well.
Let us appreciate and make a good use of the blessings of Mt. Bandaisan, and realize a harmony between the nature and human beings.
Let us protect the nature of Mt. Bandaisan and make a good use of it in a rightful way.
Let us worship and take pride in Mt. Bandaisan to pass it on to future generations.
Let us each think and act on our own will for the sake of Mt. Bandaisan
September, 21, 2010
The most recent eruption was in 1888 (Meiji 21) which caused a rock avalanche that took away more than 470 people, and at the same time, left numerous beautiful ponds including Goshikinuma that now embraces a wide variety of lives and attracts visitors with its beauty and scholars with its academic value highly regarded.
Mt. Bandaisan provides us a beautiful scenery, abundant water resources, hot springs, and many other blessings which were deeply appreciated by our ancestors as the base of fruitful and warm lifestyle and culture. However, the beautiful nature of the mountain has been damaged by the modern lifestyles and leisure activities. Once damaged by humans, the precious nature takes many years to restore.
Mt. Bandaisan is truly "a mountain of treasure" as sung in an ancient folk song. It is a wonderful place in terms of its nature, scenery, history, and culture. It is a precious asset to be handed down to the future generations. For these reasons, we must take pride in the nature, landscape, history, and culture of the mountain, protect nature, prevent volcanic disasters, take own initiative to think what each of us can do, and realize a harmony between the nature and human beings. Now we declare that Mt. Bandaisan is an asset and a treasure for local residents. We promise to come together with love for the mountain, join hands to protect and make a good use of it in a rightful way. We will have a strong determination to worship and take pride in the mountain and hand it down to future. For these purpose, three towns of Inawashiromachi, Bandaimachi, and Kitashiobaramura establish "Charter of Mt. Bandaisan."
Let us learn about the nature, history and culture of Mt. Bandaisan and get to know it well.
Let us appreciate and make a good use of the blessings of Mt. Bandaisan, and realize a harmony between the nature and human beings.
Let us protect the nature of Mt. Bandaisan and make a good use of it in a rightful way.
Let us worship and take pride in Mt. Bandaisan to pass it on to future generations.
Let us each think and act on our own will for the sake of Mt. Bandaisan
September, 21, 2010
Rules for Mt. Bandaisan trekking
- No toilet is available. Please bring your own portable toilets.
- Do not climb in casual wears or do hiking without proper planning.
- Please carry a map and a compass with you, and check your route constantly.
- Have a courage to turn back when the weather is bad, or when you are lost.
- Please do not litter and keep trekking route for others.
- For the protection of flora and fauna, it is strictly prohibited to step outside the trekking route, or to collect plants and trees of the mountain.
- In case of accidents, always fill out climber card beforehand.
【Cautions!】
- When you hear a siren while climbing, check the safety around you, and quickly descend the mountain.
- Please stay away from areas where volcanic gases are present.
- Please be careful of bears and always carry bear bells and other protections with you.
Bandai-Asahi National Park
Bandai-Asahi National Park is the second largest national land park in Japan, stretching to the three prefectures of Fukushima, Yamagata, and Niigata, covering a vast area of the three mountains of Dewa, peaks of Asahi, Iide, Azuma, and Bandaisan, as well as Inawashiro Lake.
Due to its huge size, the park has various mountains with variety of slopes for beginner and advanced skiers and climbers. It also has hot springs for visitors. Many tourists from Tokyo metropolitan areas choose to visit the park since it has a good access from Tokyo.
Due to its huge size, the park has various mountains with variety of slopes for beginner and advanced skiers and climbers. It also has hot springs for visitors. Many tourists from Tokyo metropolitan areas choose to visit the park since it has a good access from Tokyo.
Access
Enter "Inawashiro Ski Resort" as facility name into your car navigation.
Enter "Hayama 7105 Inawashiromachi, Fukushima prefecture" as street address into your car navigation.
For detailed access to the trailhead (Inawashiro) for Mt. Bandaisan click here.
Photo by bluesky.rash.jp
