Otaki Experience

The Seasonal Kodo Bus is scheduled to start again July 2026. The schedule hasn’t been released yet, but is reportedly the same as 2025 (see below).

Besides the buses to Otaki Village center listed on the Getting to Otaki page, during high season on the mountain there are 2 buses daily between Kiso-Fukushima Station and Tanohara (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). 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 only want to hike the Waterfall Trail portion of the pilgrimage trail, you can get off at Sannogome, the stop before Kiyotaki Falls. 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).

Ontake Kodo Daytrip: Easiest Roundtrip from Kiso

For those not driving, not staying over in Otaki, and short on time, planning your hike to coincide with this bus is can make a daytrip totally doable.

Depart from Kiso-Fukushima Station (bound for Tanohara) at 8:40 am. Get off at Otaki or Satomiya Shrine (about 9:15 am).

To return, get the bus coming down the mountain bound for Kiso-Fukushima Station at about 4:20 pm at either the Shintaki, Kiyotaki, or Sannogome stop. You’ll be back at Kiso-Fukushima Station a little after 5 pm.

Note that there are other bus options for getting back, but they all require hiking several kilometers back down to the village center. See the Getting to Otaki page for times.

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)