Take a local bus to “Shirabidaira Station,” the ropeway boarding station. Park your car at the “Suganodai Bus Center Parking Lot” in the Komagane Highlands, and purchase tickets for the local bus and the ropeway there. Regular bus service runs every 30 minutes, departing at 15 and 45 past the hour (during the winter season, service runs every 60 minutes, departing at 15 past the hour). Be sure to double-check that you haven’t forgotten anything for your hike! *The schedule for this plan is the summer schedule. Please note that the winter schedule has different departure times.
It’s about 10 km to Shirabidaira Station. The local bus takes you through the great outdoors. You’ll enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, and you might even spot antelopes or monkeys along the way!
Board the ropeway. It climbs 950 meters in elevation in just 7 minutes and 30 seconds. The Komagatake Ropeway holds the records for both the highest elevation and the greatest elevation gain of any ropeway in Japan. Using the ropeway makes high-altitude hiking accessible even to beginners.
From here at Hotel Senjojiki, we’re setting off for the summit of Mt. Kiso-Komagatake—the main peak of the Central Alps and one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains! Although it’s considered relatively beginner-friendly, it’s at a high altitude, so be sure to prepare thoroughly before setting out.
It takes 1 hour and 50 minutes after getting off the ropeway! Take the ropeway to reach the summit of Mt. Kiso-Komagatake (2,956 m), the main peak of the Central Alps, in about 2 hours!
After returning from the summit, you can enjoy a meal at “2612 Café & Restaurant” at Hotel Senjojiki. This café and restaurant had its soft opening in January 2023. The gift shop at Japan’s highest-altitude hotel offers original merchandise and local specialty souvenirs.
