100 Famous Japanese Mountains
The 100 Famous Japanese Mountains or "hyakumeizan" (日本百名山) are a list of 100 mountains picked by mountaineer Kyuya Fukada. These hundred mountains are very popular among Japanese hikers, and generally have good public transport access and well-maintained trails. If you're looking for a mountain to hike in Japan, this list is a great place to start. I've also included a handy map below to let you get a quick overview of them all.
When I first started hiking, mountains that could be done as a day trip from Tokyo by public transport were like the holy grail for me. There are 20 of those mountains (which I have marked with a ⭐). Another 5 can be done as a day trip, as long as you have a car (marked with 🚗). I've also noted down where you can pair multiple hyakumeizan together to make the most out of a trip away.
To-date I've climbed 52 of the 100 famous mountains. This page is still a work-in-progress, as it mostly contains the mountains I've already climbed. I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions or feedback via the comments section at the bottom of this page.
| Mountain | Elevation | Shortest course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Mt Tsukuba (筑波山) Ibaraki The lowest elevation mountain on the list, and a good intro to the hyakumeizan. Standard course is 4h. | 877 m | 0.83 h |
| 2. |  Mt Daibosatsu (大菩薩嶺) Yamanashi Short course, easily accessible from Tokyo, and great views of Mt Fuji if you are lucky. | 2056 m | 3.75 h |
| 3. |  Mt Amagi (天城山) Shizuoka Is one of the rare few hyakumeizans near the ocean, although its views aren't too great due to the tree cover. With its low elevation, can be climbed in the off-season. | 1406 m | 4.5 h |
| 4. |  Mt Akagi (赤城山) Gunma A straightforward loop course, with good bus access. Particularly popular in May for its pink azaleas. You can also visit the nearby Akagi Shrine. | 1826 m | 3.5 h |
| 5. |  Mt Ryokami (両神山) Saitama The bus timings are a bit dicey, so it might be better as an overnight hike if you want to take your time. But I found it to be quite doable as a daytrip with public transport. Since it's low-elevation you can climb it earlier than other hyakumeizans. | 1723 m | 7.83 h |
| 6. |  Mt Chausu (茶臼岳) Tochigi Stunning scenery if you like volcanoes. Courses vary from 1.5h to 6.5h depending on if you use the ropeway. | 1915 m | 1.5 h |
| 7. |  Mt Kumotori (雲取山) Tokyo / Saitama / Yamanashi The highest mountain in Tokyo. The standard course is overnight and the trail is long, but if you're fast a day hike is possible. | 2017 m | 10.75 h |
| 8. |  Mt Tanzawa (丹沢山) Kanagawa The course is long, but well-maintained with lots of stairs and rest huts, and easy access from Tokyo. Can split it up into an overnight hike with a stay at one of the huts. | 1567 m | 10.83 h |
| 9. |  Mt Tanigawa (谷川岳) Gunma / Niigata Day trip accessible via Shinkansen and local train to Doai station, the deepest train station in all of Japan. Very popular in autumn. | 1977 m | 4.83 h |
| 10. |  Mt Mizugaki (瑞牆山) Yamanashi Although the course distance is short, it is deceptively hard as there are some steep climbs. Can be combined with the nearby Mt Kinpu as an overnight camping trip. | 2230 m | 5.5 h |
| 11. | Mt Kinpu (金峰山) Nagano / Yamanashi As a day hike, was quite a straightforward and easy trail. Can be combined with the nearby Mt Mizugaki as an overnight camping trip. | 2599 m | 4 h |
| 12. | Mt Kirigamine (霧ヶ峰) Nagano A very accessible hyakumeizan, with options for a longer loop course. If you time your hike for July, you can see its famous field of yellow flowers (although I felt it was a bit overhyped). | 1924 m | 1.5 h |
| 13. |  Mt Shibutsu (至仏山) Gunma Oze National Park 1/3. Gorgeous scenery of the Oze Marsh. Can be combined as a 2-day hike with the neighbouring Mt Hiuchigatake. | 2228 m | 5.5 h |
| 14. |  Mt Azumaya (四阿山) Gunma / Nagano Day trip accessible via Shinkansen to Ueda station and then a local bus. Course can be as short as 3.5h by car, but with public transport expect it to take 7 - 8 hours. The best part of this hike is seeing the neighbouring peak of Mt Neko. | 2354 m | 3.5 h |
| 15. | A gorgeous introduction to the Chuo Alps, with the highest ropeway station in Japan. The closest you can get 3000m on a day trip hike from Tokyo. | 2956 m | 3.5 h |
| 16. | Mt Nikko-Shirane (日光白根山) Gunma / Tochigi Nikko 1/2. Can pair with the nearby Mt Nantai for a weekend trip (good public transport between both). | 2578 m | 4.3 h |
| 17. | Mt Nantai (男体山) Tochigi Nikko 2/2. Can pair with the nearby Mt Nikko-Shirane for a weekend trip. | 2484 m | 6.5 h |
| 18. |  Mt Zao (蔵王山) Miyagi / Yamagata Can do as a very expensive day trip via Shinkasen access to Yamagata station. Is right next to the popular Zao Onsen town. | 1841 m | 2.5 h |
| 19. |  Mt Adatara (安達太良山) Fukushima Fukushima 1/3. Accessible as an expensive day hike from Tokyo thanks to the Shinkansen. Recommending pairing with another Fukushima mountain. Very popular in the autumn season. | 1699 m | 2.31 h |
| 20. |  Mt Ibuki (伊吹山) Gifu / Shiga Day trip access (albeit expensive) via Shinkansen to Maibara station. As of 2024, the main hiking trail is closed. Instead you can drive (or take a bus in the summer season) to right near the peak. | 1377 m | 1 h |
| 21. |  Mt Tateshina (蓼科山) Nagano No public transport access, but quite a short hike so doable if you have a car. The summit is a huge field of rocks. | 2530 m | 3.5 h |
| 22. |  Mt Hotaka (武尊山) Gunma Most popularly climbed in winter, in which case there is public transport access and the course time is shortened to 3.5 hours. The summer course does have a portion of chain-climbing over a steep rock-face. | 2158 m | 6.66 h |
| 23. | Mt Utsukushigahara (美ヶ原) Nagano You can drive to right near the summit, so the drive is much longer than the hike itself. Recommend pairing with another mountain like Mt Kirigamine to make the most of your trip. | 2034 m | 1 h |
| 24. | Mt Hiuchigatake (燧ヶ岳) Fukushima Oze National Park 2/3. Can be climbed together with Mt Shibutsu as an overnight hike. | 2356 m | 5.92 h |
| 25. |  Mt Kobushi (甲武信ヶ岳) Nagano / Saitama / Yamanashi A bit on the harder side as a day trip, with a 3.5 hour drive from Tokyo, but the course was easier than I expected as the elevation gain is not too steep. Taking public transport will require you to spend the night at the mountain hut. | 2475 m | 7.33 h |
| 26. |  Mt Aka (赤岳 / 八ヶ岳) Nagano / Yamanashi The highest peak in the Yatsugatake mountain range. Accessible via an overnight bus if you are coming with public transport. | 2899 m | 7.5 h |
| 27. | Mt Fuji (富士山) Shizuoka / Yamanashi Needs no introduction. Either come via an overnight bus, or spend the night in one of the mountain huts. The shortest course is via Shizuoka's Fujinomiya trail, but the Yoshida trail is the most popular. | 3776 m | 8 h |
| 28. |  Mt Norikura (乗鞍岳) Gifu / Nagano The easiest mountain in the Northern Alps, and home of the highest bus stop in Japan. Can pair with Mt Ontake or Kamikochi / Mt Yake for a weekend trip. | 3026 m | 2.83 h |
| 29. |  Mt Ontake (御嶽山) Gifu / Nagano A still-active volcano that last erupted in 2014. Can pair with Mt Norikura or Mt Kiso-komagatake for a weekend trip. | 3067 m | 5 h |
| 30. | Mt Yake (焼岳) Gifu / Nagano The easiest mountain to access from Kamikochi, the gateway to the North Alps. Can use overnight bus if coming via public transport. | 2455 m | 5 h |
| 31. | Mt Naeba (苗場山) Niigata / Nagano Slightly too far away from Tokyo so requires an overnight stay the night before, but doable as a day hike. | 2145 m | 4 h |
| 32. |  Mt Aizu-Komagatake (会津駒ヶ岳) Fukushima Oze National Park 3/3. 4 hour drive from Tokyo or overnight train. Can pair with the other Oze hikes or also with the Nikko hikes. | 2133 m | 6 h |
| 33. | Mt Ena (恵那山) Gifu / Nagano Unfortunately well-known as the most boring of the hyakumeizan with no scenery. It's 4 hour drive from Tokyo which makes it just a little bit out of reach of a day trip. Overnight buses also available. | 2191 m | 7 h |
| 34. | Mt Bandai (磐梯山) Fukushima Fukushima 2/3. Good public transport access, but just a little bit too far from Tokyo for a day trip. Recommend pairing with Mt Adatara for a weekend trip. | 1816 m | 4.66 h |
| 35. | Mt Azuma (西吾妻山) Fukushima / Niigata Fukushima 3/3. Do not get it confused with Mt Azuma-kofuji, which is a separate mountain. Worth pairing with Mt Bandai or Mt Adatara. | 2035 m | 3.18 h |
| 36. |  Mt Daisen (大山) Tottori This one's all one its own in Tottori prefecture. You'll probably take a plane to Tottori airport, climb this one and then fly back home. | 1729 m | 5.13 h |
| 37. |  Mt Arashima (荒島岳) Fukui The only hyakumeizan in Fukui. The nearest mountains you could drive to are Mt Ibuki, Mt Ena and Mt Haku, although none of them are that close. | 1523 m | 6.75 h |
| 38. | Mt Haku (白山) Gifu / Ishikawa | 2702 m | 8.5 h |
| 39. |  Mt Sobo (祖母山) Oita / Miyazaki Kyushu 1/6. If you had to skip one of the Kyushu hyakumeizan, it would have to be this one. Public transport access will take the course time up to 7.5h. | 1756 m | 4.87 h |
| 40. | Kyushu 2/6. Stunning volcano views, good access via highway bus. | 1787 m | 4.16 h |
| 41. |  Mt Aso (阿蘇山) Kumamoto Kyushu 3/6. A still-active volcano which frequently gets closed off, so check before you go. | 1592 m | 4.16 h |
| 42. | Mt Kirishima / Karakuni (霧島山 / 韓国岳) Miyazaki / Kagoshima Kyushu 4/6. The only mountain in Kyushu I am yet to climb. | 1700 m | 3 h |
| 43. |  Kaimondake (開聞岳) Kagoshima Kyushu 5/6. The second-lowest elevation hyakumeizan, climbable for many months of the year. | 924 m | 4.75 h |
| 44. |  Mt Odaigahara (大台ヶ原) Mie / Nara Nara 1/2. Quite an easy mountain, and has public transport access but not the greatest (I drove). Pair together with Mt Omine. | 1695 m | 0.75 h |
| 45. | Nara 2/2. Will need to make it into an overnight hike (mountain hut available) if you want to take public transport, but possible as a day hike via car. | 1915 m | 6.33 h |
| 46. |  Mt Ishizuchi (石鎚山) Ehime Shikoku 1/2. Access via Matsuyama airport or Shinkansen. Accounting for travel time, may need up to 4 days to climb both Shikoku mountains if you are coming from Tokyo. | 1982 m | 4.5 h |
| 47. |  Mt Tsurugi (剣山) Tokushima Shikoku 2/2. Pair together with Mt Ishizuchi. | 1955 m | 1.33 h |
| 48. | Mt Hakkoda (八甲田山) Aomori Aomori 1/2. Can climb together with Mt Iwaki as a 3-day weekend trip. | 1584 m | 4 h |
| 49. | Mt Iwaki (岩木山) Aomori Aoromi 2/2. Can climb together with Mt Iwaki as a 3-day weekend trip. | 1625 m | 1.1 h |
| 50. |  Mt Shari (斜里岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 1/9. Has a stream-climbing portion for the adventurous, but also an alternate course. Unfortunately will require car or taxi to the trailhead. | 1547 m | 6.83 h |
| 51. |  Mt Asahi (大雪山 / 旭岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 2/9. In Daisetsuzan National Park. Tallest mountain in Hokkaido, but also with the best public transport access. | 2291 m | 4.5 h |
| 52. |  Mt Meakan (阿寒岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 3/9. The course is not too long, with stunning views into the crater's yellow lake. Unfortunately no public transport access. | 1499 m | 4.5 h |
| 53. |  Mt Rausu (羅臼岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 4/9. One of the longer Hokkaido hikes. With public transport, will need to spend the night near the start of the trail at a hut or hotel, or camp near the peak in the middle of bear country. | 1661 m | 9.5 h |
| 54. | Mount Rishiri (利尻山) Hokkaido Hokkaido 5/9. The northernmost hyakumeizan in Japan, and also on its own little island. You'll need to spend a night on the island, but otherwise can be done as a day hike. | 1721 m | 8.5 h |
| 55. | Mount Tokachi (十勝岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 6/9 | 2077 m | 6.5 h |
| 56. | Mount Yotei (羊蹄山) Hokkaido Hokkaido 7/9. It looks pretty similar to Mt Fuji. | 1898 m | 8 h |
| 57. | Mt Tomuraushi (トムラウシ山) Hokkaido Hokkaido 8/9. With a 17km trail, probably requires a stay at the summit. | 2141 m | 10.2 h |
| 58. | Mt Poroshiri (幌尻岳) Hokkaido Hokkaido 9/9. I've heard it to be one of the more difficult Hokkaido hikes. There can be a river crossing depending on the weather. | 2052 m | 17 h |
| 59. |  Mt Miyanoura (宮之浦岳) Kagoshima Kyushu 6/6. Need to take a boat or plane from the Kyushu mainland to Yakushima island. Could maybe squeeze it as a day hike, or spend a night at one of the unmanned huts on the trail. | 1936 m | 7.25 h |
| 60. |  Mt Washiba (鷲羽岳) Nagano / Toyama Kita Alps. As part of a 3 day hike, with an optional detour to Mt Suisho. There are many mountain huts on the trail, or you can bring your own tent. | 2924 m | 21 h |
| 61. | Mt Suisho (水晶岳) Toyama Kita Alps. Can be combined as part of a 3 (or 4) day hike with Mt Washiba. | 2986 m | 22 h |
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