Photo: Yuniko, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mt. Echigo-Komagatake Hiking Guide: Oriori-tōge Trailhead, the Takigumo Shuttle and Koma-no-Koya
A guide to Mt. Echigo-Komagatake (2,003 m) in Uonuma, Niigata, one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. About 5 h 30 min to the summit from Oriori-tōge, 50 free parking spaces, the weekend Takigumo shuttle with one 15:00 return for hikers, the Koma-no-Koya emergency hut, and the Route 352 winter closure from November 4, 2026.
This guide is based on Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, the Uonuma City Tourism Association and Niigata Tourism Navi, checked October 24, 2026. Shuttle and road information changes, so check the official pages before you go.
Introduction
Mt. Echigo-Komagatake (越後駒ヶ岳, also called Uonuma-Komagatake) is a 2,003 m mountain in Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture (officially 2,002.7 m), and one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. The flower fields near the summit are popular. The trailhead at Oriori-tōge pass is also famous for takigumo, a "cloud waterfall" of fog spilling over the pass.
Key points (as of October 24, 2026)
- The Oriori-tōge parking area has 50 spaces for regular cars.
- On weekends and holidays until November 3, the Uonuma Takigumo Shuttle runs with no reservation needed. There is only one return bus for hikers, leaving Oriori-tōge at 15:00.
- Koma-no-Koya near the summit is an emergency hut. You cannot reserve it and no meals are served.
- National Route 352 closes for winter from 9:00 on November 4, 2026, between Komanoyu-iriguchi and Ginzandaira, which includes the road over Oriori-tōge.
Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Uonuma, Niigata |
| Elevation | 2,002.7 m (commonly 2,003 m) |
| Level | Intermediate (Niigata Tourism Navi) |
| Time | About 5 h 30 min to the summit (same source, Oriori-tōge page) |
| Main trailheads | Oriori-tōge, Komanoyu |
Access
By car (Oriori-tōge)
Niigata Tourism Navi gives about 60 minutes by car from Uonuma IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway via Oriori-tōge. Parking at the pass is for 50 regular cars, with no spaces for large vehicles.
Niigata Prefecture's Uonuma office announced that Route 352 will be closed for winter from 9:00 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, between Komanoyu-iriguchi and Ginzandaira (Ishidaki-bashi), and between the Ginzandaira boat landing and the prefectural border. The closure is usually lifted in late June.
Uonuma Takigumo Shuttle
According to the Uonuma City Tourism Association, the shuttle runs on weekends and holidays from September 19 to November 3, 2026 (19 days in total).
- Route 1: Shirogane-no-Yu day spa parking ⇔ Oriori-tōge parking, about every 20 minutes in the early morning
- Route 2: Ōyu Kōen parking ⇔ Oriori-tōge parking; two runs a day until mid-October because of disaster repairs
- Fare: ¥1,000 one way, ¥2,000 return, cash only, same for adults and children. Discounted with a proof-of-stay slip from accommodation in Uonuma
- No reservation needed
- Hikers' return bus: one departure only, Oriori-tōge 15:00, via Shirogane-no-Yu to Ōyu Kōen, on weekends and holidays only. If you miss it, you walk back.
- Service can change or be cancelled without notice due to weather. Operating information is posted around 15:00 two days before. (For example, the association announced that the shuttle would not run on October 24 and 25 because of a rain forecast.)
Public transport (Komanoyu trailhead)
Niigata Tourism Navi: from JR Koide Station (Jōetsu Line), take a bus for 25 minutes to Ōyu Onsen, then walk 60 minutes or take a taxi for 5 minutes. We did not confirm bus times or fares.
Koma-no-Koya hut
Uonuma City describes Koma-no-Koya as the mountain's emergency hut, for shelter and rest in bad weather. During the season a caretaker stays mainly on weekends, and you can stay overnight.
| Item | Details (Uonuma City) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2,002.7 m, at the junction of the Myōjin and Gunkai ridges |
| Open | All year (caretaker present mid-May to mid-October on weekends, and on weekdays in August and October) |
| Capacity | 40 people |
| Overnight | ¥2,000 per person (contribution). A few blankets and mats |
| Tents | About 10 tents, ¥500 per tent (contribution) |
| Reservations | Not accepted (it is an emergency hut) |
| Water | Two sources: beside the hut and about 3 minutes below it |
| Toilet | Inside the hut |
| Food | No service. Bring your own food and stove |
Koma-no-Koya on Mt. Aizu-Komagatake in Fukushima is a different hut.
Gear
- Windproof and warm layers, plus rain gear: the summit area is windy and October is cold
- Mid-cut hiking boots for rock and wet ground
- A headlamp for early starts or a late descent
- Water and food; the hut serves no meals
- An offline map app and a power bank
Tips for first-timers
- Time: with about 5 h 30 min to the summit, a day trip needs an early start. If you use the hikers' shuttle, work back from the 15:00 departure.
- Parking: only 50 spaces, so consider the shuttle on autumn weekends.
- Snow and ice: late October onward can bring snow and frozen ground.
- Road closure: after 9:00 on November 4, 2026 you cannot drive to Oriori-tōge.