Mt. Myojinyama 明神山

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Yamanakako Panorama-dai 明神山パノラマ台 – Mt. Mikuni 三国山 – Mt. Takasasu 高指山

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Yamanaka Lake Hike: Mikuni, Myojinyama & Takasasu

As one of the Fuji Five Lakes, the area around Lake Yamanaka is blessed with natural forests and offers plenty of hiking routes with spectacular views. This hike begins near Yamanakako Panorama-dai, a popular and easily accessible viewpoint on the east side of the lake. For many sightseers, this is the furthest they go, but even better views can be enjoyed from Mt. Myojinyama, about a 30-minute walk up the volcanic gravel slope from Panorama-dai. The route for this hike first ascends Mt. Mikuni after Panorama-dai, then continues to Mt. Myojinyama, following the gently undulating ridgeline to Mt. Takasasu, where equally impressive views await.

Getting to the trailhead is straightforward, though somewhat time-consuming. From Mt. Fuji Station 富士山駅, head to the bus departure area and take an F-Line bus bound for Fujiyoshida · Oshino · Yamanakako from bus stop 3. While the first morning bus departs at 6:58 am, the first train from Otsuki arrives too late. Therefore, the earliest bus that can be caught is at 7:53 am. This local sightseeing bus alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise routeing. Get off at Mt. Mikuni Hiking Course Entrance 三国山ハイキングコース入口, Bus Stop 158. The ride takes approximately one hour and costs 890 yen.

From the bus stop, cross the road and look for a sign pointing to the Mt. Mikuni Panorama-dai Hiking Trail. From here, it’s an easy 15-minute walk, crossing the road once before reaching Yamanakako Panorama-dai 山中湖パノラマ台. One reason I chose to hike on this particular day was that the previous day had been extremely windy in the Kanto area. I figured the following day would offer a beautifully clear view of Mt. Fuji, and I wasn’t disappointed—I was greeted with a near-cloudless blue sky.

After taking in the view, walk up the road towards Mikuni-toge 三国峠. The trail to the summit begins at the far end of the large carpark. Here, I encountered the first snow of the day. Although I didn’t end up needing to put on my chain spikes, I was glad to have them, as the trail was quite slippery. The path also widens in places, so be mindful of the pink tape to stay on course. The summit of Mt. Mikuni 三国山 (1,328 m) is covered with trees and offers little view. As the kanji suggests, it marks the border between Kanagawa, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka prefectures. The descent back to the pass took only 15 minutes.

At Mikuni-toge, cross the road, and the trail soon emerges into a field of golden grass, where the view suddenly opens up. This is a pleasant and scenic trail, offering a stunning view of Mt. Fuji framed by large, rolling field of pampas grass (susuki). As the shrine at the top, marking Mt. Myojinyama 明神山, (1,291 m), came into view, it looked just as amazing as expected. The summit, also known by the less glamorous name Tepogi-no-atama 鉄砲木の頭, is spacious and open, and it takes less than 20 minutes to reach from Mikuni Pass. From here, Mt. Fuji and Lake Yamanaka spread out before you. The white building overlooking Lake Yamanaka is Hotel Mount Fuji.

The Mt. Takasasu and Mt. Myojinyama hiking course continues towards Mt. Takasasu, about an hour away. Apart from one steepish descent, the trail is easy to hike. Along the way, there are a couple of side trails that shortcut down to Hirano 平野, including Kiridoshi-toge 切通峠. From Mt. Myojinyama onward, I didn’t encounter any other hikers. Mt. Takasasu 高指山 (1,174 m) is a peak I passed through a couple of years ago after the Azegamaru hike. Although it’s not a particularly popular mountain, it similarly offers a fantastic view of Fujisan, with a wooden bench where you can sit and take in the scenery.

From Mt. Takasasu, it’s a 50-minute walk to the Yamanakako Hirano Bus Stop 162, where you can catch a bus to Mt. Fuji Station 富士山駅, 47 minutes, 810 yen, or Shinjuku (advanced booking required).
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