Mount Ontake

A beautiful mountain on the border of Gifu & Nagano prefectures, Mt Ontake is awesome! Seen from afar Ontake-san is brilliant white for most of the year, and since October 2014, a plume of steam has been visible when the volcano erupted killing 63 people. It is still on volcanic alert level 2 (lowered from level 1 in August 2017), so it is still closed for hiking. Lower areas are still accessible but the peak and surrounds are off limits.

We've been here in late september 2017. The vegetaton in the higher altitudes were already turning into red. We parked our car in the parking lot of the cable car. Then we took to it to the base point of the climb. Th climb is not that easy and you need to be in a relatively good shape. Alternatively, you can just climb it very slowly :-). As for safety, the trail is safe with no obvious obstacles. After 1-1.5 hours of climb you'll reach a resting point. From here the view starts to be amazig. From the resting point to the mountain top is about 1 hour or less. Just before the mountain top (which was closed and you could only see it from the first pond) there is a hut. The first pond was not that beutiful. Looked like a muddy construction site. Unfortunatley for us, we started the climb around noon so we did not have sufficient time to see the other ponds. Make sure to start the climb around 8AM so you'll sufficient time for the entire journey, as the cable car closes around 4PM. The scenery is amazig once you leave the forest. Absolutley recommended.

I pray for the souls of the people who died by the eruption. Mountain climbing is prohibited as of January 2019. Since there is no forest from the hilly side, the view while climbing is good, but summer it is hot in the sunlight. My recommendation is the snowfall period. In the morning, you can climb the large slope of tight snow freely. It is an independent peak and there are no forests, so there is no place to avoid avoiding blowing in the wind. I want to climb the sunny and calm day. If you climb up from Ropeway Top station you can go and back in one day. More preferably, if you wear skiing, or if you climb taking it, When descending the mountain you can skiing freely on a wonderful large slope. It is a very long course of about 3 km to the top of the station and more than 4 km in total to the foot station. It is unthinkable to walk down this course during the snowfall period. Skiing climbing is the best.

Sacred mountain. Little bit scary because it is active volcano, But hicking was really great experience. Different. Just being there above 8th station, that feeling I will remember all my life. On 2014. there was eruption where 35 people died, we climbed on 3rd anniversary without knowing that. Must be there around 8AM if want to hike in the mountain, to see the lakes. Can't get to the top,it is closed,but can go till 2nd lake, just little bit under. Fir climb it is open trail from the ropeway only. Other trails are closed. Ropeway is working from 8-16:30 so must take care about timing. There are not so many people what is good, because it is really the place where should clean the mind. Quiet, calm, wind, smoke from vulcano, many shrines, statues, offerings on the way. Will go again. View is great, it is around 3000m -9000ft, breathtaking. Lakes are really beautiful. 2nd lake had shrunk little bit,it was in september. End of september, it was really fresh in the morning and evening. It was just a start of autumn colors. I went there one more time around 10th october and it was beautiful autumn time.There are few huts there on the trail, 8th and 9th station huts were working, could order tea,buy water, snacks. But should prepare everything before because of timing. Down at the ropeway can buy everything. In the ropeway building, next to the ticket place there is paper where you should write name,mobile phone,route- if you do that you will get free coffee( it is good one, drink on a way up while climbing on a rope way) Dont forget waterfall! It is really amazing.

It’s a super nice mountain for hiking!!!

Nice. Place

Very nice

Great