Mt Tsurugi Hike + Deep Iya Tour

Mt Tsurugi + Deep Iya Tour

Mt Tsurugi Hikes

+ Deep Iya Tour

Climb a legend

At 1955m, Mt Tsurugi is the Iya Valley's highest mountain and the second highest mountain in all of Western Japan (Mt Ishizuchi in Ehime is a dozen or so meters higher). As one of the "Top 100 Mountains in Japan", it is home to Shinto shrines, a Buddhist temple, and revered by its secretive Shugendo monks. The mountain is literally filled with legends, from its links to the ancient Heike Samurai and the young Emporer Antoku, to deep rooted beliefs that this is the hiding place for the biblical Lost Ark of the Covenant (yep, the one that supposedly holds the original Ten Commandment tablets brought forth by Moses... seriously).

But regardless of the tales and mysteries that Mt Tsurugi holds, the mountain is quite beautiful and its variety of trails offer a not-so-difficult chance to experience Iya's untarnished nature while taking in some fantastic views which extend across the mountains of Shikoku.

Hiking up the mountain is suitable even for beginners since it is not too steep, and our guided tour will first take you about half-way up the mountain via chairlift. From there its about a 1 hour hike to the top, with breaks along the way at various points of interest. Views abound up top, where a packed lunch is usually eaten upon the boardwalks that cross the broad, grassy summit, or lunch can be had at the small Summit Hut restaurant. On the way back down we take an alternate route to loop back full of even more great views, with a stop at one of the mountain's small shrines and a break to fill your water bottle at the acclaimed Tsurugi Water Spring, which is considered one of the "Top 100 Water Springs in Japan". And for those looking for more, we can even extend the hike to go to other nearby mountains or even spend the night in the Summit Hut (see below for Extensions).

After returning back down via the chairlift, you'll go with your guide and car out to the beautifully secluded Double Vine Bridges, and the panoramic Ochiai Village Viewpoint. You will also go for a walk through the delightful Nagoro Scarecrow Village and to Manpu Gorge and its fantastic suspension footbridge.

Base Time:

7 ~ 8+ hours

(Total time depends on where you start or end the tour, and your hiking speed. If both starting and ending via Oboke Station it will take at least 8 hours for the itinerary described.)

Flexible Route Tour based on hiking routes and customer abilities. Please ask.
Available mid/late-April to mid-Nov only
Includes pick-up and drop-off from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation and/or via JR Oboke Station
Tour itinerary may change based on weather.
Extended hikes possible, see below.
Add On sights possible, see below.
We are generally not available for this tour on any Wednesday.

Price (for 7 hours**):

Standard Taxi (1-3* people) ¥ 60,900**

Jumbo Taxi (3-8 people) ¥ 79,800**

+ ¥1900 per person Chairlift fee

(**total fee is based on total time. For every extra 30 minutes beyond 7 hours please add ¥4350 for Standard taxi & guide, or ¥5700 for Jumbo taxi & guide)

All taxi/guide base prices are per group (not per person)
All prices include tax
Includes vehicle, driver, and English speaking local guide
Chairlift fee for Mt Tsurugi is ¥1900/adult round trip, ¥900/child under 12.
Your group will need to pay the guide's chairlift fee
3 people in Standard Taxi is only recommended if 3rd person is a child
Meal fees not included
Please pay your guide's lunch fee
Entrance fees not included (¥550/person Double Vine Bridge. Children are discounted)

Itinerary:

Pick-up from any local accommodation or Oboke Station
Ryugugake Park and Manpu Gorge Wire Bridge
Nagoro Scarecrow Village walk
Drive to Mt Tsurugi base
Tsurugi Chairlift to half-way up mountain
Hike to top with a few short breaks (about 1 hour total hike up)
Local Bento or Mountain Hut Lunch (see "Lunch Options" below)
Enjoy Mt Tsurugi's broad summit and panoramic views
Return hike via loop route (about 1 hour hike down)
Return to base via chairlift
Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges
Ochiai Village Viewpoint
Drop-off at any local accommodation or Oboke Station

Details About this Tour
- Available mid/late-April to mid-November only (not available in winter or before about April 15).
- Please pay the chairlift fee and lunch fee for the guide.
- Rain, storms, or heavy clouds can be a problem. The hiking part of this tour may be cancelled due to bad weather, and we may decide to cancel on the day of the tour. If so, we will try to visit other locations in the Iya Valley instead.
- This tour can start anytime between 7:30am and 10:30am, though earlier is better.
- Pick-up and drop-off can be from any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station. Some accommodations are closer to Mt Tsurugi, while others are farther (especially places in the Oboke area). We will explain the approximate time and fee needed based on where you are staying and/or if going via Oboke Station.
Lunch Options

- Usually we reccomend either bringing lunch to eat outside on the top of Mt Tsurugi (bentos can be arranged) or eating at the Tsurugi Summit Hut lodge. We will explain more about food when making your reservation.
About Length of Tour Time
- For hiking tours, please understand that Mt Tsurugi is located at the farthest end of the Iya Valley and requires about 1 to 1.5+ hours to travel by vehicle each way to the hiking trailhead from many Iya Valley accommodations (but some accommodations in Oku-Iya are a bit closer). When traveling via Oboke Station or any Oboke area accommodations, the travel time is about 1.5 hours each way (or a little more).
- The overall tour length and fee will be based on where you both begin and finish this tour. From most hotel accommodations in the Nishi-Iya (central Iya Valley) area, it would probably take at least 7 to 7.5 hours to include hiking the mountain as well as the other tour stops including the Double Vine Bridges, Nagoro Scarecrow Village, and a couple viewpoints along the driving route. When going via Oboke Station (start and end) it will take at least 8 hours.
- Also, the total tour time may be affected by your hiking speed.
- When arranging the hiking tour we will try to determine the amount of time necessary based on your plans to determine the approximate fee.

Extended Tsurugi Hikes:

The total hiking time needed for the route explained above (including the chairlift, breaks, and/or lunch) is about 3 to 4 hours depending on your speed (so total tour time including driving and visiting some other sights on the way is about 7 to 8+ hours, depending on where you start/end the tour), however if you are looking for a more rugged and challenging hike full of awesome views, we can extend the hike in a couple of fantastic ways:

Jirogyu Extension:

Mt Jirogyu is the neighbor to Mt Tsurugi, and is Tokushima's second highest mountain at 1930m. The trail between the two peaks along the ridge is truly spectacular. The summit of Mt Jirogyu offers a picture-perfect 360 degree view, and being that it is much less visited than Mt Tsurugi, the feeling of natural isolation is wonderful. (Of note, many of the lovely pictures you may see of "Mt Tsurugi" are actually photos of Mt Jiryogu which were taken from the top of Mt Tsurugi)

This extension hike takes about 1.5 hours longer than the main hike, so total tour time would be 8 to 9+ hours, depending on your speed*, on where you begin and end the tour, and if you include all scheduled stops (like Nagoro Scarecrow Village, Ochiai Viewpoint, and/or Double Vine Bridges).

*Decent hiking fitness is needed.

The fee will be based on the total time needed.

Jirogyu & Maruishi Extension (finish at Double Vine Bridges):

With the regular Jirogyu Extension hike you would return to the base of Mt Tsurugi via a type of loop trail, however with this hike we continue over and beyond Mt Jirogyu and continue along the panoramic ridge out to Mt Maruishi for even more incredible views and a deeper feeling of seclusion. From Maruishi the trail then enters the forest, where you descend (often steeply) down to the Double Vine Bridges, which you will need to cross to reach our waiting vehicle.

This truly awesome extended hike takes about 2.5 hours longer than the main hike, so total tour time would be 8.5 to 9.5+ hours, depending on your speed*, on where you begin or end the tour, and if you include all scheduled stops. (it is probably only possible if you are staying in the Iya Valley area).

*Decent hiking fitness is definitely needed.

The fee will be based on the total time needed.

2 Day Hike with stay at Tsurugi Summit Hut:

For a fantastic and unique experience, choose to stay overnight at the Tsurugi Summit Hut , and enjoy both an awesome sunset and spectacular sunrise with a chance to see the elusive early morning "Sea of Clouds".

On Day 1 you will hike to the summit (either with or without the chairlift,) and possibly take a lovely side hike out to nearby Mt Ichinomori. Then on Day 2 you can either choose to return with your guide down to Mt Tsurugi's base, or continue along the ridge via Mt Jirogyu and Mt Maruishi to finish at the Double Vine Bridges.

Though you would be hiring the guide for 2 days, with a multi-day hike it can be possible for us to use a local bus for either one or both of the ways, which can help reduce the cost (please note that buses are only 2 times per day and do not go everyday, so this option is limited). Base prices for the guide start from 32,000 yen per day (8 hours + additional overnight fee), plus about 10,000 yen per person for staying at the Tsurugi Hut (includes dinner and BF) and you will need to pay your guide's accommodation too. Other meals, transportation (taxi and/or bus), and the chairlift would be extra. If seriously interested, please ask for more details. We will work together to make the schedule and arrangements.

+Add On options for this tour:

The main Tsurugi hike takes a few hours, but with some extra time we can go to some additional points to make it an even more fulfilling day!!

Rates for every 30 minutes of extension:

Standard Taxi with guide + ¥4350

Jumbo Taxi with guide + ¥5700

*these extension fees are per group, not per person.