Tour D | Sample Itineraries | Gunma: Kusatsu/Minakami | Featured Destinations

Tour DA hiking trip to Mount Tanigawa

Mount Tanigawa is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains and has some of the most spectacular views in Gunma. Climb up to the observatory and see the wide panorama of Gunma and its natural beauty below you. When the trees turn color in fall, the views are at their finest. Although you will be going up to an altitude of about 2,000 meters, the itinerary can be enjoyed casually thanks to the ropeway and chairlift.

Along the way to Mount Tanigawa is Doai Station. With nearly 500 steps to climb down to get to the northbound platform, this is an unusual train station! For travelers with the time, this is a great side adventure that won’t soon be forgotten.

Trip Details

Times and train names are current as of September 2011. Because the times and train names are subject to change, they should be used for reference.

dep.
8:04

Tokyo Station

approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes on the Tanigawa No. 403 on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line

arr.
9:22
dep.
9:30

Jomo Kogen Station

Local bus (approx. 45 minutes)

arr.
10:15

Tanigawadake
Ropeway Station bus
stop, Doaiguchi Station

Ropeway (approx. 10 minutes)

Tanigawadake Ropeway

The Tanigawadake Ropeway allows you to easily get to Mount Tanigawa with a 10 minute trip through the air, surrounded by the splendor of nature. At the last stop Tenjindaira, famous for its view of the peaks of Mount Tanigawa and the winter ski slopes, you can enjoy lots of mountain flora.
Total time: about 10 minutes each way – the gondolas run continuously and leave at two-minute intervals

Hours of Operation

Weekdays: 8:00 to 17:00
Weekends and holidays: 7:00 to 17:00

Ropeway: until 16:30 going up, 17:00 going down
Chairlift: until 16:30

Entrance Fees

Ropeway
- Adults: 1,200 yen (one way), 2,000 yen (round trip)
- Children: 600 yen (one way), 1,000 yen (round trip)
Lift
- All ages: 400 yen (one way), 700 yen (round trip)

Official Tanigawadake Ropeway website (in Japanese only)

The Tanigawadake Ropeway

arr.
10:45
dep.
13:00

Tenjindaira Station

Ropeway (approx. 10 minutes)

Tenjindaira

Tenjindaira is a plateau located at about 1,500 meters in altitude on Mount Tanigawa. From Tenjindaira, the majestic view of Mount Tanigawa can be enjoyed. In fall, the trees change color, captivating great numbers of sightseers who come for the views.

Tenjindaira at 1,500 meters

arr.
13:10
dep.
13:15

Doaiguchi Station

Local bus (approx. 3 minutes)

arr.
15:16

Doai Station

Local bus (approx. 45 minutes)

Doai Station, nicknamed the mole station

In the middle of Mount Tanigawa lies an unmanned station, a very quiet place. From the ticket gate to the northbound platform is an extraordinarily long tunnel; walking it takes some 10 minutes.

The tunnel has a stairway extending 338 meters, with over 462 steps. From the top of the steps, there is a 143-meter (24-step) connecting passage to the ticket gate. The altitude of the northbound platform is 653.7 meters, a difference of 70.7 meters from the station entrance. Watch your step!
Doaiguchi Station is located close by. If you have the time, make this climb for a memorable little adventure.
Total time: 10 minutes each way

The stairway in the "mole station"

arr.
16:03
dep.
16:22

Jomo Kogen Station

approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes on the Max Tanigawa 418 on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line

More tourism information on Gunma

Gunma Tourism International Association

arr.
17:40

Tokyo Station

Shinkansen

Ropeway

Bus

Note:

Buses do not run often, so if you are planning to use them, take care not to miss the bus. Inquire at the JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at your nearest station for detailed bus schedules.

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