Mt. Nyukasayama rises to 1,955 m in the Nyukasayama range at the northern end of the Southern Alps, in Nagano Prefecture. Its summit is an open viewing platform, famed for a grand panorama that takes in Yatsugatake, the Central and Southern Alps and even Mt. Fuji. The Nyukasa Marsh on the mountainside is a 'famous flower mountain' where lily of the valley and many other flowers bloom. Climb from the Sawairi trailhead for a quiet path of woodland and flowers, or use the gondola to reach near the summit with ease — it is loved by everyone from beginners to families.
Source: GSI tiles (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan) ／ The route is the editor's measured YAMAP activity track (GPX).Scroll-zoom is enabled after you click the map.
Location & access
Coordinates are the trailhead and summit points from the editor's own GPS track.
Watch
Editor's note
Mt. Nyukasayama is a 1,955 m mountain that rises in the Suwa–Fujimi area next to Hokuto City. Set in the Nyukasayama range at the northern end of the Southern Alps, it is known as a “famous flower mountain” for the grand view from its summit and the flowers blooming in the Nyukasa Marsh on its mountainside. Easy to reach via the Chuo Expressway, and — using the Fujimi Panorama Resort gondola — an easy way up to near the summit, it bustles with beginners, families and people visiting for the flowers: an introductory peak of the Southern Alps.
I walked it on an early July morning. Leaving the Sawairi trailhead a little after 6 a.m., I followed a quiet path of woodland and flowers up to Mt. Nyukasayama. Along the start of the climb, orange ripe wild raspberries and purple and white wildflowers bloomed here and there. After a short climb I stepped out onto the summit, where the view suddenly opened, and — though there was plenty of cloud — a sweeping view of mountain ranges and the basin below awaited.
The editor's measured time was about 3 hours 42 minutes including breaks (departing 06:07, reaching the top around 8 a.m., descending at 09:49), about 6.5 km and around 529 m of ascent. Using the gondola, you can enjoy the grand view and flower meadows even more easily. Being able to choose how you climb it to suit your goal and fitness is part of Mt. Nyukasayama's appeal.
It is an easy mountain you can drive to the trailhead of, with a gondola too, but the summit is open and exposed to the wind, and in mist or bad weather there is no view. Beware of sudden changes in the weather. To protect the Nyukasa Marsh and flower meadows, keep to the boardwalks and trails, and do not pick flowers or plants or trample off the path. The car park fills up easily during the flower season and on weekends, so arriving early is recommended.
Routes
From the Sawairi trailhead (about 1,450 m), you follow a path of woodland and flowers to the summit of Mt. Nyukasayama. The editor made this out-and-back from Sawairi, walking about 6.5 km and around 529 m of ascent in the early morning. The start of the climb has many wild raspberries and wildflowers, and once you step out onto the summit the view suddenly opens up into a grand panorama.
Ride the Fujimi Panorama Resort gondola straight up to the summit station at about 1,780 m, and after passing the Nyukasa Marsh and flower meadows you can reach the summit’s grand panorama in a short time. With little elevation gain, this is the easiest and most popular route on Mt. Nyukasayama, loved by families and flower-seekers alike.
Editor's record
The editor's actual timings on this hike (from the video record). Use them as a guide to course times.
History & culture
Mt. Nyukasayama (Nyukasayama, 1,955 m) is a mountain in the Nyukasayama range at the northern end of the Southern Alps, in Nagano Prefecture.
Its greatest appeal is the grand view from the summit. From the open top a 360-degree panorama spreads out over Yatsugatake, the Central and Southern Alps, and — on a clear day — as far as Mt. Fuji and the Northern Alps.
Another face of the mountain is its flowers. The Nyukasa Marsh spreading across the mountainside is known as a colony of lily of the valley, and from early summer into summer many flowers bloom in the marsh and the flower meadows. Thanks to this rich display, Mt. Nyukasayama has long been loved as a famous flower mountain.
With the ease of the Fujimi Panorama Resort gondola taking you close to the summit, it bustles with families, beginners and people visiting for the flowers — an introductory peak of the Southern Alps.
Photos
All photos were taken by the editor on the actual hike. Tap to enlarge.
Orange, ripe wild raspberries (a kind of kiichigo) in dappled sunlight. The flower- and fruit-rich start of the climb (about 1,470 m).
Small white flowers blooming along the trail (about 1,470 m).
Climbing a trail where purple flowers bloom. Mt. Nyukasayama is loved as a mountain of many flowers (about 1,470 m).
The grand view from near the summit of Mt. Nyukasayama. Mountain ranges and a basin spread out below the clouds (about 1,950 m).FAQ
