Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead)
Open by month
Closed in January. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): closed.
Closed in February.
Closed in March.
Closed in April.
Closed in May.
Partly closed in June: some days or parts are closed — see the official site.
Open in July. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in August. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in September. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in October — at its best. Katsura, beech and Erman's birch colour (mid to late October).
Partly closed in November: some days or parts are closed — see the official site.
Closed in December. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): closed.
Checked against the official site on 2026-10-15.
The trailhead at 1,529 m for Kita-dake, Japan's second-highest peak. Private cars are banned on the forest road, so visitors arrive by route bus or taxi; giant katsura, beech and Erman's birch turn colour here in autumn.
Nearby
- Kitazawa Pass ≈ 25 min by car
- Yamataka Jindai-zakura (Jissoji) ≈ 30 min by car
- Ojiragawa Gorge ≈ 30 min by car
- Kiyoharu Art Colony ≈ 40 min by car
- Sanbuichi Spring ≈ 55 min by car
Travel times are rough estimates by car.
- Best time
- October — Katsura, beech and Erman's birch colour (mid to late October)
- Getting there
- About 1 h 53 min by Yamanashi Kotsu bus from Kofu Station (e.g. 9:05 -> 10:58), or about 1 h by bus or shared taxi from the Ashiyasu municipal car park
Few buses — check times or join a tour - Fee
- Bus fare: ¥2,400 from Kofu Station, ¥1,450 from the Ashiyasu car park, plus a ¥300 user contribution each way (free for elementary school children and under)
- Good to know
- Private cars are banned from Jun 26 to Nov 3, 2026 (road open 5:30-18:00); only route buses and taxis may enter. The road closes for winter from Nov 4. On Nov 3 a cycling event stops buses and taxis for part of the day. Heavy rain can close the road. Hirogawara-Kitazawa-toge buses are suspended in 2026
- Time needed
- 1 h
Checked against the official Japanese website on 2026-10-15. Report outdated info