13.2 km · historical mountain circuit · station-side bath

Shiroyama Hike and Bath Day

Climb from Joganji to Mount Shiroyama, follow the out-and-back trail to the cave associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo, and descend through Gosho Shrine. Finish with a day-use bath at Hotel Shiroyama and dinner at Steakhouse Aiyu.

Single day: Dense

Best for

Fit adults with proper footwear who are comfortable with a sustained mountain walk, uneven trails, steep sections, and roughly six hours outside.

Budget

Allow about ¥5,200–¥9,900 per person for station food and water, the day-use bath, and dinner. Travel to Yugawara and future price changes are additional.

The route

A 13.2 km mountain route followed by Hotel Shiroyama and Steakhouse Aiyu.

The current official course is 13.2 km with a published walking time of 3 hours 58 minutes and a high–low difference of 582.2 metres. This schedule allows about 5½ hours for the trail, historical stops, lunch, toilets, and conservative navigation.

Shiroyama — hike, soak, and dinner

Start early, follow the official circuit in its published direction, and be back at the station before the bath and dinner.

07:45–08:15
Coffee and trail supplies at NewDays Yugawara
Official information
Buy breakfast, packed lunch, snacks and all required water beside the ticket gate. The store lists 06:00–21:00 daily, but product availability is not guaranteed. Carry at least 1.5 litres in mild weather and 2 litres or more in warm conditions; no potable mountain refill has been verified.
Cost
About ¥800–¥1,500
Reservation
No reservation
08:25–08:45
From the previous stop
8min · About 700 mThe road approach begins at Yugawara Station; trail routing after Joganji must follow the official map rather than Google Maps.Open in Google Maps
Joganji and the Doi clan history
Official information
Walk through the Shirohori JR underpass to the Doi clan temple. See the clan graves, Shichikido hall and the ancient Chinese juniper without delaying the mountain start.
Cost
Free
Reservation
No reservation
08:45–09:50
Climb to Shiroyama summit
Official route map
Follow the signed route through Sengen Shrine and the picnic ground at the Miyashita Forestry Road endpoint. The current official sequence continues to Shiroyama summit and the Doi Castle remains. The picnic ground is the only mountain toilet marked on the current course map. The summit is about 564 metres above sea level; views depend entirely on weather.
Cost
Free
Reservation
No reservation; verify trail status before departure
09:50–11:40
Tsubakidai and Shitodo Cave out-and-back
Official route map
Follow the official spur from the summit to Tsubakidai, then to the cave associated with the tradition of Minamoto no Yoritomo's flight after Ishibashiyama. Return directly to the summit. Printed segment times are 30 minutes to Tsubakidai, 15 minutes to the cave, and 45 minutes back to the summit. Present the hiding-place account as tradition associated with the site, not a proven reconstruction.
Cost
Free
Reservation
No reservation; skip this spur if behind schedule or conditions deteriorate
11:40–12:20
Packed lunch at the summit
Eat the lunch bought at the station. Do not depend on food service, vending machines or drinkable spring water. Carry every item of rubbish out.
Cost
Included in the station supply budget
Reservation
No reservation
12:20–13:45
Descend through Miyashita Forestry Road and Gosho Shrine
Official route information
Return to the picnic ground, descend through the Miyashita Forestry Road gate, and continue to Gosho Shrine. Keep the daylight buffer rather than extending the shrine stop. The official printed route then continues to Yugawara Station.
Cost
Free
Reservation
No reservation
13:45–13:55
From the previous stop
10min · Official final segmentThe official route map allows ten minutes from Gosho Shrine to Yugawara Station.Open in Google Maps
Return to Yugawara Station
Complete the official station-to-station circuit. Retrieve stored luggage only if you independently confirmed storage and found capacity; lockers cannot be guaranteed.
Cost
Free
Reservation
No reservation
14:10–16:15
From the previous stop
3min · About 220 mThe hotel is beside the station; use the road route shown by Google Maps.Open in Google Maps
Recovery bath at Hotel Shiroyama
Official website
Use the station-side day bath rather than travelling back up the valley. Published information lists 12:30–22:30, adult admission of ¥1,870, and a bath towel and yukata. Hours, temporary closure, final admission, tattoo policy and accessible bathing provision require direct confirmation. Bring a small washing towel or confirm availability.
Cost
Adult ¥1,870 at the published rate
Reservation
Call before travel; day-use access may change
17:00–18:30
From the previous stop
15min · About 1.0 kmAllow 12–15 minutes from the station-side hotel to the restaurant.Open in Google Maps
Dinner at Steakhouse Aiyu
Official information
Finish with an early teppan steak dinner near the town hall. The restaurant's own information lists dinner from 17:00 to 20:30 with last order at 20:00, Thursday closure, and one additional Wednesday closure each month. The tourism listing differs, so confirm the exact date directly and use the shorter hours for planning.
Cost
About ¥2,500–¥6,500 per person
Reservation
Telephone reservation recommended for dinner
18:30–18:45
From the previous stop
12min · About 900 mThe tourism listing allows about 12 minutes between Yugawara Station and Aiyu; this route travels in the reverse direction.Open in Google Maps
Walk to Yugawara Station
Return to the station and use the live timetable for the onward journey. Do not add a nightcap or another cross-town stop to this hiking day.
Cost
Onward rail fare
Reservation
No reservation unless the chosen train requires one

Before you go

Check the trail, weather, daylight, and bath hours first.

Recheck the route on the day

The town page updated 27 January 2026 still displays a forestry closure whose stated period ended 31 December 2025; the full circuit then appears on the March 2026 prefectural map. No newer official Shiroyama closure was found at the review date, but that is not a permanent opening guarantee. After heavy rain, a typhoon, snow, an earthquake, forestry work or a new notice, do not enter until current access is confirmed.

Weather and turnaround rules

Cancel for heavy rain, thunderstorms, snow, ice, dense fog, a heat warning, or immediately after a typhoon. Carry a headlamp even though the plan finishes in daylight. If the first summit is not reached by about 10:30, omit the Shitodo Cave spur, saving roughly 90 minutes of printed route time. Never invent an unsigned shortcut.

Mountain equipment, water and toilets

Wear hiking shoes with tread and carry the official map offline, an offline GPS map, charged phone, battery pack, headlamp, rain shell, seasonal layers, sun protection, first-aid kit, lunch, snacks and sufficient water. Use the station toilet before departure. The current map marks toilets at the station and picnic ground, but no verified toilet or potable-water refill at Shitodo Cave.

Navigation, reception and emergencies

The town warns that more hikers are becoming lost, that few other people may be present, and that mobile reception cannot be assumed. Hike with a companion where possible. If lost, stop, establish the last confirmed point and retrace the known route rather than continuing. The town advises calling 110 for rescue where a signal is available; use 119 for medical or fire emergencies.

Wildlife

The municipality warns of monkeys, wild boar, snakes and bees. Do not approach or feed wildlife. Move away calmly from bees rather than striking at them.

Luggage and accessibility

Use a small daypack and never carry a suitcase on the trail. Station locker availability and capacity cannot be promised. The route is not wheelchair or stroller accessible and is unsuitable for anyone unable to negotiate steep, uneven and potentially slippery ground. Bath accessibility and tattoo admission require direct confirmation.

Sources and route checks

Last checked 2026-08-27

Shiroyama Hike and Bath Day

Coffee and trail supplies at NewDays Yugawara

Joganji and the Doi clan history

Climb to Shiroyama summit

Tsubakidai and Shitodo Cave out-and-back

Packed lunch at the summit

Descend through Miyashita Forestry Road and Gosho Shrine

Return to Yugawara Station

Recovery bath at Hotel Shiroyama

Dinner at Steakhouse Aiyu

Walk to Yugawara Station