Hello, everyone.
This is a report on a rather long hike I made. There was just enough snow to make the scenery beautiful, but not enough to make it difficult or dangerous.
The skies were clear, and I could see for dozens of miles in every direction of the compass.
It was late enough that I was able to catch the sunset from a peak with an unobstructed view.
Great day
. . . about Mt. Hachibuse
Nice mountain in Matsumoto City, Nagano. To its west lie the wide valley in which Azumino and Matsumoto Cities lie, with Kamikochi and the Northern Alps beyond. It offers spectacular views of Lake Suwa, Mt. Fuji, Yatsugatake, and Utsukushigahara as well.
Location:
Map: ***If you want a link to the latest Yama to Kogen map, comment and I'll get you a link. This link is to a printable topo map.
Starting and stopping point:
Parking Lot on Okaya City Route 16 near Shiojiri Pass
Peaks bagged: Higashi (東山)~ Takabocchi (高ボッチ山)~ Yokomine (横峰)~ Hachibuse (鉢伏山)
(First-time) peaks # 1,082~1,084
Getting there/getting around:
Car
Helpful Info
Weather Information:
Time and distance
YAMAP's Estimate Time: 9:38 Distance: 25.5 km
The Caveman did it in Total Time: 8:12 Break time: :35 Distance: 30.1 km
Elevation: Lowest: 1,011 m Highest: 1,929 m Total Ascent: 1,406 m Total Descent: 1,406 m
Technical considerations/difficulty:
Most of this is below the treeline and there are no ropes, chains or ladders. Much of it is actually on forestry roads and even paved roads.
Some of the actual trail-type parts of the trail are straight uphill.
The biggest danger is of getting lost. There are forestry roads criss-crossing the trail all over the place and I think a neophyte might lose their bearings. It was very dark for the last hour or so of my hike, and I could easily have lost my way but for my GPS.
Facilities:
There is some kind of bird center and a municipal facility early on in the hike. I passed a city-run campground, too. Further up the trail, from the area around Mt. Takabochi up to Hachibuse, there are several parking lots and public restrooms. Everything is closed in the winter, though.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations:
So glad I did this. Unless you are a glutton for punishment, you might prefer going during the hiking season and driving up most of the way. The first time I went to the area, I drove to the Hachibusesanso (Hachibuse Hut), and hiked from there. It's only about a half hour to hike from there to the top of Hachibuse. Alternatively, you could look into parking near Mt. Takabochi. That mountain also has incredible views and it is right next to a parking lot.
(Along with all the regular stuff such as maps, headlamps, boots, feet, and brains, . . .) don't forget:
GPS. As I said, I probably would have lost the trail in the dark. I'm sure I would still have found my way to the bottom because of all the city lights to orient on, but it could take a long time bushwhacking in the dark.
Let's look at some pictures and video.
The first video is just the animation of the hike.
This is a longer video with more details.
Guest starring Bambi and Clarice
Early on...
Lots of views of the Alps...
Taken just below Hachibuse
I was starting to feel a little deja vu.
December, 2025
August, 2024
This is from the viewpoint at the top of Hachibuse.
Lunch was pasta and . . . whale meat.
It was yummy but I ate in a hurry because it was cold.
The temp. hovered around freezing but the wind was really whipping away at the top.
That is the marker for the top.
The torii in August
The same torii in December
After scoping things out from Mt. Hachibuse, I headed back the way I came. I had an eye on the time as I figured I could make back to Mt. Takabocchi just in time for sunset if I hurried.
It's about 3~4 miles between the two peaks, but most of it can be done on pavement.
Since I beat feet to make it back down to Mt. Takabocchi, it looked like I'd be in time for the sunset!
(Watch the video linked above to see it.)
I still had a couple of hours' walking to do after sunset, but didn't need my headlamp until the last hour or so.
I got back to the car around 7.
I dropped by the Fureai Bath at the Yuuyu Park in Nagawa on the way home. Thankfully, they fed me even though I got there just at the restaurant's closing time.
This place is just behind the Michi No Eki Nagawajuku on Route 142.
This is just outside the bath.
Check out my last hike to Hachibuse,
or this hike I made nearby last month:
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Caveman out
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