End of the season in the South Alps (Mt Senjo, Mt Kaikoma)
Hike dates: October 31 and November 1, 2026
This was the last weekend of the year that the bus was running to the Kitazawa Pass, and the last weekend that the Komorebi mountain hut was open. I was unable to resist the promise of fine but windy weather and earlier in the week I’d booked a night in the hut, located conveniently near the trailheads to both Mt Senjo and Mt Kaikoma.
The first bus of the day departs the valley below at 6:30, but despite the earlier hour and late season there was already a large queue developing when I arrived at 5:45. When the bus finally arrived at Kitazawa I headed up the steep wooded slope towards Mt Senjo. The climb was relentless and I could see little evidence of the promised good weather through the gaps in the trees. At around the 2,600 metre-mark the path became frozen and I became grateful for my foresight in bringing chain spikes. By the time I reached the ridge line the snow was deep, visibility was poor and the wind fierce. Still I struggled on, climbing up and down the rock formations covered in ice. Near the summit there were breaks in the clouds, but this was mostly an exercise in endurance. The blue skies didn’t appear until long after I had descended, and the only views of note were of Mt Kaikoma, my target for the next day.
Despite their close proximity, I learned there was no snow on Mt Kaikoma. After a restless night in the hut I started out in pitch dark at 5AM. After half an hour or so of depending on my light the sun’s rays broke through the trees and I was able to move comfortably through the forest. Today’s weather was much clearer and before long I was able to enjoy views across the South Alps, including to Mt Senjo, which I had barely been able to see the day before.
Mt Kaikoma (2,067 metres) is lower than Mt Senjo (3,033 metres), but the spiny ridge after Mt Komatsumine with its ups and downs, chains and irregular rocks makes it a tougher challenge. Still I was able to negotiate the ridge and then the gravelly sandstone path as it wound its way up past the distinctive rock formations to the summit. Unlike the day before I was able to enjoy fantastic views with Mt Fuji and the inner peaks of the South Alps already covered in snow.
This was a tough weekend summiting two hyakumeizan and involving more than 2,300 metres of elevation gain over two days. Still it was a fine couple of days and a good way to end the climbing season in the Alps.
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