Long awaited visit to Mt Kazakoshi
Hike date: September 5, 2026
It was only 14 degrees when I started today and it felt like the first blast of autumn. Today’s hike was to the well-known satoyama of Mt Kazakoshi in the Kiso valley (not to be confused with a mountain of the same name in nearby Iida). I’d wanted to come here for a long time but I’d always been put off because the total driving time is about the same time as it takes to climb this steep peak. Anyway I was keen to arrive early because I’d heard there were only 2-3 spaces at the trailhead. I shouldn’t have worried because I met no one on this mountain and the only car when I descended was mine.
Shortly after the trailhead the path forked with both trails leading to the summit. I took the right fork and resolved to descend via the left. Despite the relatively cold morning I was soon sweating as the path ascended through the dense forest up the steep mountain side. Before long I was catching glimpses of the Kiso valley below although Mt Ontake remained shrouded in cloud. The path was clear and well marked until I arrived at the top of the steep slope and it was covered in deep wet grass. Within no time I was at the summit and then so-called lookout point, which only had fragmented views of Mt Kisokoma behind.
The mountain was silent and deserted as I descended carefully down the other trail, slipping and sliding on the mud. It was good workout with over 650 metres of elevation gain but I was back in my car within 3 hours. Despite the long drive and the short hike this is definitely a peak I'd like to revisit, perhaps in a different season.
Check here for more information about Mt Kazakoshi.
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