Ontake Pilgrimage Trail (Ontake Kodo)
Fall 2025 tours are filling up fast.
Book before July 31 and receive a 5,000 yen discount.
A guided half-day pilgrimage where you’ll learn about Mt. Ontake’s spiritual traditions and take in some of the ancient Otaki route’s most sacred sites.
The tour starts at Satomiya Shrine, the all important first stop for pilgrims ascending the mountain. We then walk a portion of the Ontake Waterfall Trail, with ample time spent at the purification falls of Kiyotaki and Shintaki. Periods of mindful walking will help you experience the mountain the way practitioners have for centuries. You’ll leave with an understanding of what drew them here in the first place.
Season: April to November (usually with some flexibility depending on local conditions)
Distance: 4 to about 10 km (depending on how much of the trail you want to walk)
Time: usually 3 to 6 hours (depending on distance covered, time spent taking photos, mindful walking, etc.)
Price: 55,000 yen (tour cost for up to 6 travelers. Contact us for options/rates if there are more than 6 in your group). See below for info on our traditional waterfall meditation add-on.
To guarantee a spot, please reserve your tour as early as possible. Due to logistics, we’re rarely able to accommodate last minute requests.
(For more hikes on Nagano’s historic trails, including the Nakasendo, please visit our partner site, Mindful Japan Tours)
“Chris is a fantastic guide and we had a wonderful private tour of the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail. We would definitely recommend him for anyone looking to get off the beaten trail with a knowledgeable guide.”
Nate H. and Lillith W. — MN, USA
“Chris has a laid back tour style that makes you feel more immersed in the moment. He explains the history of the sites and creates an environment where you feel safe to ask questions. He also speaks of his own experiences in Japan to add more colour and perspective, which we really enjoyed. We would highly recommend a tour and will be using his services again when we return to Japan!”
Alyssa M. and Mark R. — Toronto, CA
Waterfall Meditation Add-On
With advance notice, we can also arrange for a demonstration and/or basic instruction in takigyo (traditional waterfall meditation) at Kiyotaki Falls. This will let you experience the ancient practice of takigyo for yourself. We work with two highly experienced local instructors in the Mt. Ontake takigyo tradition. See below for details.
Price: 13,000 yen per group + 3,000 yen per participant (For those actually trying the practice. So (for example), a group of 4 with 2 people trying waterfall meditation=19,000 yen). Add-on price is in addition to the basic tour rate. Only available as part of a tour
Enyu Yamamoto is a yamabushi mountain priest. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1984, he started out as an engineer and designer. In 2018 when he moved to Nagano, he encountered the land’s reverence for mountains and became a member of the Shugendo community. Today, leading a life of both work and spiritual practice, he is dedicated to the promotion of Japan’s ancient worldview with nature at its core.
Koji Kurumizawa‘s family has had ties to the Ontake tradition for generations, and he has years of experience teaching travelers the etiquette and practice of waterfall meditation. He is the proprietor of Kurumizawa Ryokan. Located right across from the first stop on the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail, they have been welcoming pilgrims on the mountain since 1869. Spiritual travelers still make up a large portion of their guests today.
Otaki Experience 