The highest mountain of northern Yatsugatake, a twin-peaked summit of blue Tengu (West) and red Tengu (East). From Shibunoyu you follow forest and snowy ridges, taking in the two summits and the "Yatsugatake blue" sky.
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.
Starting to climb through the snowy forest belt (from Shibunoyu, about 2,320 m)
Rime ice and blue sky. The view opens through a gap in the forest (about 2,400 m)
The "Second Viewpoint" signpost and the snowy ridge (about 2,500 m)
The snow-clad rock peaks of Tenguzake draw near
Climbing the snowy ridge just below the summit (about 2,630 m)
Standing on the summit of West Tenguzake (2,646 m)
Following the snowy ridge from West Tengu to East Tengu
The summit signpost of East Tenguzake (2,640 m)
The vast snowy panorama from East Tenguzake
A bird met on the ridge rocks (on the descent)
The Yatsugatake view beyond the rocky ridge (descent)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.
Climbing through the snowy forest belt (from Shibunoyu, about 1,990 m)
The buildings of Shibunoyu (Shibu-Gotenyu). Setting out from the snow-buried trailhead (about 1,870 m)
The "West Ridge trailhead · Shakunage Bridge" signpost (to Tenguzake via Kuroyuri-daira)
The upper forest, a slope where mist rolls in (about 2,460 m)
The retreat point at about 2,522 m short of West Tenguzake. Snowscape on the goggles (full midwinter gear)Editor's note
Tenguzake is the highest mountain of northern Yatsugatake, a twin-peaked summit made up of West Tenguzake (2,646 m) and East Tenguzake (2,640 m). The rounded West Tengu ("blue Tengu"), clad in creeping pine, and the sharp East Tengu ("red Tengu"), showing bare rock. Being able to link the two contrasting summits on foot is the charm, and it is also loved as an introductory mountain of Yatsugatake. The Hokuto editor walks and sets out this local Yatsugatake mountain first-hand.
The editor has two records of this mountain. One is midwinter (February) — climbing from Shibunoyu but, with strong wind and poor visibility, turning back at about 2,527 m short of West Tenguzake (a retreat, no summit). It is a record that teaches that, on a snow mountain, deciding to turn back matters too. The other is the late-snow season (April) that became its rematch — choosing a day when the remaining snow was firm, and reaching the twin peaks of West and East Tenguzake under rime ice and "Yatsugatake blue" (a summit). In the "Climb Records" tab above you can compare each hike's replay, elevation profile, route map and photos.
The editor's measured time when summiting (late-snow season) was about 7 hours 14 minutes including breaks (depart 06:45 · West Tengu 10:52 / East Tengu 11:30 · descend by 13:59). In the snow-free season it is just right as an introduction to Yatsugatake, but its face changes greatly with the season.
Even though the snow-free season suits beginners, the late-snow and midwinter seasons are a serious snow mountain. In fact, the editor too turned back in midwinter. Beware of the rock on East Tengu and the strong wind above the tree line, and do not push it on days when the weather is breaking. Used well, the Kuroyuri Hütte lets you enjoy the twin peaks with margin to spare.
Routes
Starting from Shibunoyu on the western side, you climb through the forest belt to the twin peaks. Past a viewpoint you reach the two summits — the gently rounded West Tenguzake and the rocky-ridged East Tenguzake. It is relatively easy for Yatsugatake and suited to beginners, but the late-snow season the editor walked was a snow mountain that required crampons and an ice axe.
There are plenty of options — the path pushing up to West Tenguzake from Karasawa-kosen, or routes on the eastern side via Inagoyu, Shirakoma-ike and Nyu. Using the Kuroyuri Hütte at Kuroyuri-daira as a base lets you plan with some margin.
History & culture
Tenguzake is the highest mountain of northern Yatsugatake, a twin-peaked summit made up of West Tenguzake (2,646 m) and East Tenguzake (2,640 m). It stands in Chino City, Nagano, and is counted among Japan's 200 Famous Mountains.
The two summits present contrasting faces. Rounded and clad in creeping pine, West Tenguzake is also called "blue Tengu," while the bare-rock East Tenguzake is called "red Tengu"; standing side by side, they give Tenguzake its distinctive character. With the Kuroyuri Hütte at Kuroyuri-daira as a base, it is widely loved as an introductory mountain of Yatsugatake.
From winter into the late-snow season, the contrast between the rime ice growing on the forest (the frost-flowers of the Shirabiso firs) and the clear "Yatsugatake blue" sky is superb. In turn, above the tree line the wind is strong, and snow-mountain gear and experience are required.
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