Otaki Experience

The Seasonal Kodo Bus has finished running for 2025. We expect a similar schedule for 2026 and will update when details have been published, probably in mid-spring of 2026.

Besides the buses to Otaki Village center listed on the Getting Here page, there are 2 buses between Kiso Fukushima Station and Tanohara. This is the end-of-the-line for vehicles and the starting point for the final climb to Mt. Ontake’s summit.

These buses only run on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from July to October 19, as well as during Obon (August 4 to 8).

If your schedule fits, they can be handy both for summiting Mt. Ontake and when hiking the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail. For climbing to the summit, take the bus all the way to the end at Tanohara. For the pilgrimage trail, you can either get off at Otaki Village Center or start from Satomiya Shrine. If you just want to hike the Waterfall Trail portion of the pilgrimage trail, you can get off at San-no-Gome, the stop before Kiyotaki Falls (see below). When you finish the Waterfall Trail hike, you can return from the Kiyotaki Falls stop or the Shintaki Falls stop (about 2 minutes before Kiyotaki).

One-way Rates:
Kiso Fukushima Station to Otaki Village Center: 200 yen
Kiso Fukushima Station to Tanohara: 1,500 yen
Fares for the intermediate stops below haven’t been published, but should be between 600 and 1,000 yen.

Bus tickets need to be purchased at the ticket counter in Kiso Fukushima (across from the station. Stop at the tourist office a few doors down if anything is unclear)