What other travelers are saying about Mount Nantai
Great hike but it’s challenging.
I recommend grippy shoes, my trainers were super slippery and it’s quite dangerous, I fell down a few times, thankfully only small cuts
My tips for tourists/foreigners wishing to do this hike (as of May 2025)
TLDR: entrance closes at 12, wear shoes with grip (!) - it is slippy, bring at least 2 litres of water
- entrance to the trail is 1000 yen, I think cash only.
- CANNOT enter after 12pm
- 1.100 meter elevation gain. this hike is STEEP
- wear proper shoes, I wouldn’t recommend this in normal trainers. You will need shoes with grip.
- the snow close to the top, and the gravel near the summit is very slippy, sticks/poles could be a massive help.
- bring at least 2 litres of water, also electrolyte water could be good.
- there are a lot of bug swarms at the top, bug spray would’ve been helpful.
- seemingly there are monkeys, I didn’t see any but something to beware of if you planning to bring food.
- bring food! It is a long hike. At least 6 hours including some rest time so you will want some energy.
- there is no bins located along the trail. Or toilets. The only toilet is at the temple you enter. You must pay 100 yen for paper :/
Overall, amazing hike even on a cloudy day. I started at 11am and was down by about 5pm with minimal stops other than a good rest at the top. Most of the trail is on scramble trail which is pretty steep. There is a section you walk along a winding road. The start of the trail is through some really nice woodland, but again, steep! And it only gets worse 🤣
Very hard for beginners it takes us almost 6 hours for up and down big big stone and sleepy mud makes difficult climbing , take as much water as you can.
Mount Nantai is one of the 100 famous Japanese mountains located in Nikko,Tochigi Prefecture and this mountain is 2,486 m
If you are planning to climb this mountain,I recommend you to do early morning and in a good season where weather could be best for everything.i paid 1000 yen for the single entry from the base for this hike.
And yes I have uploaded some pictures of the hiking trail where you need to climb through the rocks and stones roughly 9km distance.so be prepared 🤞
From Nikko Station, take the bus to Chuzenji Lake area. The entrance to the hiking trail starts from Nikko Futarasan Jinja Chugushi Shrine. I gave it 5 starts because the landscape and view was just so amazing! This is a medium level hike and make sure to have plenty of time when you hike this mountain (ideally, you want to book accomodation around the lake area since the hike will take you half a day, without counting the bus commuting time). Make sure to bring some lunch, be aware that there are not many convini stores or supermarkets around the lake, and the restaurants tends to close in the early afternoon, so plan well in advance! So my suggestion is to come with good supplies. Coming early from Nikko Station, we did the hike to the top on the same day. It can get rainy so bring your rainwear as well. There are some rocks to climb and can get slippery.
The best times for hiking are from late June to early October. During these months, the weather is generally clear, and the trails are less likely to be covered in snow or ice.
While it is possible to hike Mount Nantai without a guide, having a guide can enhance safety and provide valuable local knowledge. For those unfamiliar with the area or inexperienced hikers, joining a guided tour may be beneficial.
The hike to the summit typically takes around 4 to 6 hours, depending on the route chosen and the hiker's pace. It's advisable to start early in the day to ensure enough time for the ascent and descent.
The best way to reach Mount Nantai is by taking a train or bus to Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. You can use local transportation or taxis from Nikko to get closer to the trailheads.
