Mount Ontake is the second-highest volcano in Japan after Mt. Fuji and the 14th highest peak in Japan at 3,067m. It is one of Japan’s most worshipped mountains with tens maybe hundreds of thousands of pilgrims making the journey each year. Ontake is the divine mountain of Ontake-Kyo, or Ontake Faith. This religion is similar in many ways to Shugendo asceticism, however, it’s also distinct in many ways too. Hundreds of years ago worshippers of Ontake had to endure 75-100 days of spiritual training and in effect dedicate their lives to the mountain before they were allowed to climb it. However, two monks by the names of Kakumei and Fukan changed the faith forever as they took away these restrictions and effectively opened the mountain up to the public in the late 1700s. The religion boomed and pilgrims flocked from all over Japan to climb Mount Ontake. To this day the faith continues. Priests known as sendatsu spiritually and physically lead their churches (known as kou) on annual pilgrimages to the mountain, performing preparatory prayers and rituals on the way. Some of the most common preparations include taki-gyo, meditation under a waterfall, and oza, a kind of séance, where sendatsu channel the voices of the gods and the dead. To this day, when climbing Mount Ontake, you will see sendatsu and their ko wearing simple white robes, climbing the mountain and worshipping as they go.

Sadly, this incredible mountain also has a tragic recent history. On September 27, 2014, Ontake erupted killing 63 people. Members of the faith, the mountaineering community, and the country as a whole were collectively shocked and devasted at the scale of the disaster. Four years later in 2018, as the volcanic activity of Ontake calmed down, it reopened to the public. However, many of the trails still remain closed. Naturally, the return of pilgrims and mountaineers has been tepid and cautious, but at the time of writing, the mountain is slowly regaining its popularity.

What follows is a description of the standard, default plan for Mount Ontake. Please be aware that when it comes to alpine mountains there are various factors in play that could prevent the tour from taking place as described. Also please note that this is a private tour and customizable, so please let us know your preferences.

This tour starts from Kiso Fukushima Station. If this isn’t convenient for you we can customize the plan to fit your needs. A professionally qualified mountain guide will take you to the Ontake Ropeway (either by bus or by private vehicle) and from there you will ascend the mountain by ropeway to the trailhead. From there the hike traverses a gorgeous, gnarly mountain forest before emerging out above the tree line. The following section of iron-rich volcanic rock is quite similar to the landscape of Mount Fuji. Arriving at the summit, you’ll have lunch, loop around, and come back to the ropeway station via the alpine lakes of Ninoike and Sannoike. Along the way, you can expect to see gnarly forests, volcanic rocks, hundreds to thousands of relics of the Ontake faith, bright blue alpine lakes, and more.

During the trip hot drinks and snacks will be provided.