KOMAGA-TAKE

こまがたけ 

Hiking Guide to the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture

駒ヶ岳

KOMAGA-TAKE

Mountain along the Ou Mountains known for its beech forests and alpine flowers. Also links up to Goshi-yama.

Komaga-take never had a trail until 1999 when a local group built a track connecting to Goshi-yama. In spring, Komaga-take comes to life with alpine flowers, and in Autumn the Matsutake mushrooms spawn. The mountain is also home to Takahata Town’s biggest beech forest’s secondary forest called Buna no Mori ‘the beech forest’. This forest is part of the Buna no Mori Sansaku kosu, the beech forest hiking trail of Goshi-yama to the north east.

The beautiful nature of Komaga-take throughout the year attracts people from inside and outside the prefecture, and the mountain is the location of events each year local elementary school students take part in.

Shinano-sawa Trail (3.5 hours one-way)

This is the shortest route to the summit of Komaga-take starting from the Motomiya Camping area. Park your car at the camp’s parking area, and walk up the forest path for a while. Take a right at the fork where there is a sign to Goshi-yama's Hikabagoe trail. Once in the beech forest, the trail starts in earnest. This is where the rhododendrons sprout in the spring.

The trail follows the stream for a little while and even crosses it a few times. When past the watering hole, there is a bizarre pond that’s only there from November through to the spring. After that there is a sharp incline to contend with. Along the way, there are views of Komaga-take to take in.

There is no lookout at the summit of Komagata-take, however the lookout from the 969 m high peak is great and makes a good rest stop. From this peak to the summit there is one part of the trail that gets very narrow and step so take care. (Also be aware of the chance of scouring after heavy rain)

Access is via a maintained by unpaved road (be weary of scouring after heavy rain). About five cars can park in the area near the Motomiya camping area, and about ten at the junction for the Hana-no-kata trail up Goshi-yama.

KOMAGA-TAKE

駒ヶ岳こまがたけ 

Komagatake, Mt. Komagatake, Mt. Komaga-take,

Komaga-take (駒ヶ岳こまがたけ) is a 1067m (3500 ft.) peak in the Okitama Region of Yamagata prefecture best hiked from May to October. Komaga-take is a level 3 in terms of physical demand, which means it is moderate to hike, has a B technical grade, which means it doesn't require too much expertise. Allow at least 3.5 hours one-way for a hike.

Mountain Range

Ou Mountains

Region

Okitama

Elevation

1067m (3500 ft.)

Technical Demand

B (requires some expertise)

Physical Demand

3 (relatively difficult)

Trails

Shinano-sawa Trail (3.5 hours one-way)

Best time to climb

May to October

Day trip possible?

Yes

Minimum Time Required

3.5 hours one-way on the Shinano-sawa Trail

Google Map with trailheads and summit.

PDF Maps by TheHokkaidoCartographer and JapanWilds.org. See all here.

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