Mt. Shomureyama 聖武連山

.

Mt. Shomureyama 聖武連山 – Mt. Nodake 能岳 – Mt. Yaeyama 八重山

.
GPX TrackKML TrackGSI MAPPDF Topo Map

.

A Quiet Trail with Great Mt. Fuji Vistas

Located in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Mt. Shomureyama, along with neighbouring Mt. Nodake and Mt. Yaeyama, is a low-lying mountain range with peaks around 500 metres in elevation. It offers excellent views of Fujisan and is easily accessible from the Chuo Line. To extend the hike, consider combining it with Mt. Yogaisan, as this hike finishes at the trailhead to Mt. Shomureyama.

From Uenohara Station 上野原駅, exit via the south exit and head to bus stop 1. Take the bus bound for Kosuge-no-Yu 小菅の湯 and get off at the Oduku Bus Stop 尾続. The ride takes 18 minutes and costs 400 yen. The bus departs at 8:15 am. Please note: The bus to Kosuge-no-Yu does not operate in winter (December onward). During this period, the bus runs only to Iio 飯尾, departing at 8:35 am.

From the bus stop, walk along a quiet backstreet and footpath down to the bottom of the valley, crossing a suspension bridge that spans the Tsuru River. On the climb back up the opposite approach, note a sign and detour to a waterfall. The trail down to the river is in poor condition, and accessing the riverbank requires descending via a flimsy-looking rope. Considering the unfavourable risk-to-reward ratio, I soon gave up. Besides, the main attraction was to see Mt. Fuji, and I didn’t want to linger about.

When you reach the road, turn right. There are two hiking trails to Mt. Shomureyama 聖武連山 (542 m): the west route and the east route. Due to steep terrain and fallen leaves, it’s better to climb in an anticlockwise fashion, ascending via the east route and descending via the west route. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit along an occasionally faint trail. The summit, which is home to an NHK antenna, offers a decent view of Mt. Fuji. The descent back to the road is quicker, taking around 20 minutes.

Continue along the road, passing through a short tunnel and crossing a bridge over the Kuroda River, a tributary of the Tsuru River. The trailhead for Mt. Yaeyama is on your left. The trail gently ascends, and soon, the view opens up at a spot with a small gazebo, offering a similarly good view of Mt. Fuji. From here, the trail remains mostly flat, with vibrant autumn foliage even in late November. The saddle below Mt. Nodake 能岳 (543 m) provides a wide, open view, with the Uenohara Country Club golf course to the left. The summit has a table and bench, making a good spot to take a break.

After a brief rest, the next destination is Mt. Yaeyama 八重山 (531 m). Descending to a saddle, the trail gradually ascends once more to the summit, a spacious area with a gazebo. Unfortunately, the view from the summit is somewhat obscured by trees. This was also the only point along the hike where I encountered a significant number of other hikers. One of the most appealing aspects of this hike is the quiet trails, which can be enjoyed even during peak seasons.

From the summit, several trails lead back down to the bus stop. Look for the one that passes by the Mt. Yaeyama Observation Platform 八重山展望台, a wooden deck offering a nice view. The final stretch takes you through a dense cedar forest. When you reach Junior High School, turn right for a short walk to the Ohori Bus Stop 大堀, where you can catch the bus back to Uenohara Station (10 minutes, 300 yen).
.

HELP SUPPORT THIS BLOG