Mt. Daisen Area Tour List
Join award winning guide and local expert Richard Pearce for a “Daisen Adventure of a Lifetime”!
Snowshoeing
Exciting and adventurous 3-hour courses for 4000 yen per person. Visit ancient shrines in the forest, track animals and enjoy breathtaking views.
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Daisen Hiking
Spring/Summer/Autumn Hiking – From 5,000 yen per person. Beginner, intermediate and advanced level courses available. Choose anything from standard to very adventurous routes!
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Winter Hiking
From 6,000 yen per person. Hiking Mt. Daisen in winter is a very dramatic experience and is a great introduction to winter mountain climbing. Some specialist equipment required.
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Cycling Tours
From 5000 yen per person. Daisen is a cyclist’s paradise. Freewheel from the mountain top to the Sea of Japan, cycle undulating courses through beautiful scenery or tackle some tough climbs. Quality hybrid bikes or mountain bikes used.
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STAY, PLAY AND STUDY
Speak to us directly and organise a perfect trip for your family or school group.
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Daisen Snowshoeing Safaris!
Our English-language snowshoe tours are for those with an adventurous spirit! Join us for hikes along ancient pilgrimage routes, through forests of beech, oak and giant cedar to ancient shrines and enjoy spectacular views of the scenery below. Our routes take you away from the main trails and into virgin snow!
Choose from:
Beginners course: An introduction to Snowshoeing and Mt. Daisen
Suitable for anyone (aged 6 and over) regardless of fitness level and experience. Explore the forest around the Daisen Temple and Ogamiyama Shrine area and pay a visit to the impressive Kinmon Gate. What animal footprints will we see on the way?!
Course length: Approx. 2 hours
Price: 5000 yen per person**.
Minimum/maximum group size: 2 to 20 (please ask about solo tours)
Adventure course: Forest, Valley and River Ramble
Suitable for anyone with an adventurous spirit and reasonable level of fitness (aged 12 and over). Beginners also welcome! Explore the Daisen Temple and Ogamiyama Shrine area and then head deeper into the forest and across the Motodani Valley. We return via the river side and play in the virgin snow, sliding and jumping as we go!
Course length: Approx. 3 hours
Price: 5000 yen per person**
Minimum/maximum group size: 2 to 20 (please ask about solo tours)
Custom tours: For longer or shorter courses or bigger groups, please contact us directly so that we can put together something to match your needs.
**Prices do not include snowshoe rental which can be rented from 2000 yen per day at a local shop. We can organize this for you with enough advance warning.
Hike Daisen – Guided hiking tours!
Choose from:
1. Regular: Natsuyama Course, returning via Motodani and Ogamiyama Shrine
Views of the Miho Bay
The Natsuyama trail to the Misen Peak (1709m) is the regular hiking course for the mountain. It is physically demanding, but the least technical of the hikes to one of Daisen’s Peaks. The course is basically a straight up and down one with many natural steps. From the 6th station, the route is quite open and the views spectacular. On the way back we can make a turn off the main trial and return via Ogamiyama Shrine and its magnificent stone approach.
Course length: 3 - 5 hours.
Season: From March/April to November/December.
Difficulty level/technicality level: Physically demanding, but not technical. Moderate fitness desirable.
Price: 30,000 yen for up to 2 people, 5000 yen for each additional person.
Minimum/Maximum group size: 1 / 15
2. Adventurous: Utopia Course and Sankoho Peak
The Utopia Course
Compared to the Natsuyama Course, the Utopia trail is a more adventurous route with less people on it. The beautiful route undulates through spectacular beech and oak forests and the views are incredible. It is not particularly technical, but more care needs to be taken and there are some parts where ropes help traverse steeper and potentially more slippy (but not exposed) rocky slopes. No technical equipment or experience is necessary, however. The final approach to the Sankoho Peak is quite exciting and care needs to be taken. The views from the top are worth it! A moderate or higher level of fitness is desirable to fully enjoy the Utopia Course.
Course length: 4 - 6 hours.
Season: From March/April to November/December.
Difficulty level/technicality level: Moderate, but no experience required.
Price: 30,000 yen for up to 2 people, 5000 yen for each additional person.
Minimum/Maximum group size: 1 / 15
3. Advanced: Ikkoganaru Campsite to Senjosan via Daisen Waterfall, Oyasumi Pass, Godzilla’s Backbone and Yahazugasen
This is the ultimate, full-day hiking course in the Mount Daisen area! It includes an incredible forest trail, a majestic waterfall, 4 mountain peaks and a rocky ridge known as Godzilla’s backbone! The 360-degree view from the top of Yahazugasen is breathtaking. No technical equipment is necessary although some hikers choose to wear helmets. Some scrambling up rocks is involved but no experience is required. This course is long, tiring, exciting and adventurous in equal measure. A moderate or higher level of fitness is necessary to enjoy the course and to complete it within the allotted time window. This route is an A to B course and not a circular route. Therefore 2 vehicles are needed (guide’s car plus one more).
Course length: 7 - 9 hours
Season: From March/April to November/December.
Difficulty level/technicality level: Hard with some narrow ridges. At least a moderate level of fitness is required and not suitable for those scared of heights. However, no experience of mountain climbing is necessary.
Price: 40,000 yen for up to 2 people, 5000 yen for each additional person.
Minimum/Maximum group size: 1 / 6 (depending on travel arrangements).
4. Custom Tours:
For a private hiking tour to match your personal/group’s requirements, please contact us and ask. Multi-day, easier and (even) harder options are available!
Winter Hiking - Snow-Capped Mountain Ascent!
The Misen Peak of Mount Daisen
Climbing Mt. Daisen in winter is a vastly different experience than climbing in any other season. The snow covered trees make the mountain look like a scene from a winter fairytale. Above the tree line at around the 6th station, the mountain is capped with snow and ice and some specialist equipment** (but not experience if you have a guide) is necessary in order to continue. The wind can be quite strong and the beautiful wind-blown ice structures make it feel like another world entirely! The views from the Misen Peak are incredible on a clear day. On the way back down, if the weather conditions allow, we can return via the magnificent Ogamiyama Shrine.
Course length: 4 - 6 hours
Season: From December/January to February/March.
Difficulty level/technicality level: Moderate, but need to listen carefully to and follow the guide’s instruction. A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy the climb. Proper preparation is essential.
**Necessary equipment: 12 spike crampons, *hiking boots that can be paired with crampons, hiking poles with snow baskets, appropriate winter/cold weather clothing, good gloves. In severe conditions it is also necessary to have an ice axe. A limited amount of equipment is available for hire.
*Rigid/stiff sole boots only. Standard hiking shoes/boots cannot be used as the crampons can easily come loose and fall off.
Price: 40,000 yen for up to 2 people, 10,000 yen for each additional person.
Minimum/Maximum group size: 1 / 6. Please contact us about larger groups.
Daisen Cycling Tours
The Mount Daisen area is a paradise for cyclists, beginners and experienced alike. Whether it’s rolling from mountain top to the ocean or tackling some tougher climbs, we have the courses for you!
Choose from:
Easy: Mountaintop to Ocean: Downhill Adventure!:
1/2-day course (approx. 4hrs), 29kms. From 7000 JPY! - Click here!
Easy/Medium: Mountaintop to Peninsula End:
Full day course (approx. 7hrs), 76kms. From 10,000 JPY! - Click here
Medium: Daisen’s Lower slopes and seaside course:
Full day (approx. 6hrs), 58kms. From 10,000 JPY! - Click here
Hard: The Ultimate, Around-Daisen Cycling Course!:
Full day (approx. 7hrs), 63kms. From 12,000 JPY! - Click here
(Bikes used: GIANT Escape R2/R3 Hybrids to fit size)
(RIDERS MUST HAVE VALID TRAVEL INSURANCE OR JAPANESE HEALTH INSURANCE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE)
Mountaintop to Ocean: Downhill Adventure!:
1/2-day course (approx. 4hrs), 29kms
An exhilarating ride from the ski-fields of Mount Daisen all the way down to the ocean below. This course offers breathtaking views from the mountain AND of the mountain itself! Your expert guide will introduce you to the nature and special features of the national park, show you local eco-projects and even take you to a miniature eco-village with bamboo houses! This tour is mostly downhill and flat, although there are a few short uphill parts.
Level: Easy, 2/5. Suitable for anyone with experience of riding a bicycle in recent times with a reasonable level of confidence. Not suitable for complete beginners or nervous riders.
When: March – November. AM: 08.00 – 12.00 or PM:13.00 – 17.00
Price: 10,000 JPY per person. Includes bike and helmet rental.
Meeting/ending points: Meet at Daisenguchi Train Station and transfer to ski-fields together. Tour ends in Mikuriya, walking distance to Nawa and Mikuriya Train stations.
Minimum/maximum group size: 2/10
Mountain top to Peninsula End:
Full day course (approx. 7hrs), 76kms
A very special one-day tour from the highlands of Mount Daisen to the end of the Mihonoseki Peninsula! According to the Kojiki (an ancient book of Japanese myths and legends), Mount Daisen is the very center and origin of Japan. The mountain was a stake in the ground and the Mihonseki Peninsula was a rope attached to it. The Gods cast the rope out and pulled in the land masses which form the archipelago of Japan. Pay a visit to Mihonoseki Shrine, the main Ebisu shrine in all of Japan. At the seashore, we cycle along a newly opened coastal cycle path that takes us to the Mihonoseki Lighthouse via Ejima Bridge, the third largest of its kind in the world and the small island of Eshima. There are a number of great tours that roll down the mountain, from top to bottom. However, this a tour that showcases the views FROM the mountain and the views OF the beautiful mountain itself, seen from the various angles. The tour itself is a little longer and a little harder than the mountain top-to-bottom tours. However, if you enjoy some level of sporting activity we think this is the tour for you.
Level: 3/5 Easy-Medium. Suitable for anyone with experience of riding a bicycle in recent times with a reasonable level of confidence and fitness. Not suitable for complete beginners, nervous riders or very unfit riders.
When: March – November. From 08:30am – 16.00pm approx.
Price: 20,000 JPY per person. Includes bike and helmet rental. Does not include lunch.
Meeting/ending points: Meet and finish at Daisenguchi Train Station. Transportation to start and end points is included. Yonago/Sakaiminato drop-off also possible.
Minimum/maximum group size: 2/10.
Daisen’s Lower Slopes and Seaside Course:
Full day, (approx. 6hrs), 58kms
Experience the contrasts between mountain and coastal life all within one cycle tour! First pedal through the small and windy streets of quaint mountain villages before heading up to around 300 meters above sea level on quiet roads. From here we can enjoy the views of the mountain and the ocean below. Pass through rice fields and past fruit farms whilst continuing east, crossing several valleys with some short but challenging uphill stretches. A spectacular road with a series of bridges takes us back to the seaside. From here the scenery is dramatically different as the course winds through fishing villages, past beaches and through working harbours. Just before the end of our journey we finish off with a visit to a mini eco-village with bamboo houses made by a local master craftsman. Between mid-June and late-August we can stop by an organic blueberry farm and pick and eat blueberries for an hour! *
Level: 3/5 Easy-Medium. Suitable for anyone with recent experience of riding a bicycle with a reasonable level of confidence and fitness. Not suitable for beginners, nervous riders or unfit riders. There are some demanding uphill parts. Please see the course profile below.
When: All-year-round (weather and snow levels dependent). From 09:00am – 15.00pm approx. *Blueberry picking requires an extra hour.
Price: 20,000 JPY per person. Includes bike and helmet rental. *Organic blueberry picking is an extra 1000 JPY and subject to availability. Does not include lunch.
Meeting/ending points: Meet and finish at Richiyado Guesthouse, Mikuriya.
Minimum/maximum group size: 2/10.
The Ultimate, Around-Daisen Cycling Course!:
Full day (approx. 7hrs), 63kms
This course will take your breath away – in every sense! With a total elevation gain of 1991m over 63 spectacular kilometers, this course is not for the faint-hearted or weak of spirit. However, your exertions will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery in western Japan. Starting and finishing at the Daisen-ji area, we will complete a loop of the mountain. We’ll pass through beech forests and mountain villages before stopping at Senjosan mountain where we can make a short hike to the remains of a former Emperor’s palace.
Level: 5/5. Hard. Suitable for experienced cyclists with a good level of fitness. There are several demanding uphill climbs. Please see the course profile below.
When: April - November (most of this course is closed for winter). From 09:00am – 16.00pm approx.
Price: 20,000 JPY per person. Includes bike and helmet rental. *Does not include lunch.
Meeting/ending points: Meet and finish at Daisen-ji area. Free pickup available from Daisenguchi Station.
Minimum/maximum group size: 2/10.
Stay, play and study!
Speak to us directly and organise a perfect trip for your family or school group. Large and quality accommodation and educational programs are available in addition to the activities mentioned above (hiking, cycling, snowshoeing etc).
Richiyado Guesthouse is the perfect place to stay during your visit to Japan. Ideal for families and school groups! From 12,600 yen per night for the entire property for up to 3 people. 4200 yen per extra person up to 15 people. Large kitchen for self-catering.To visit the guesthouse webpage, please click here.
Japanese giant salamander observation and educational experience - have a chance to see Japanese giant salamanders in the wild and learn about the conservation efforts in Daisen by Sustainable Daisen, a registered NPO. For more details, please click here.