Odaigahara-san (大台ヶ原山, 1,695 m — highest point: Hinode-ga-take 日出ヶ岳) is a high plateau straddling the Mie–Nara prefectural border and one of the wettest places in Japan. Its summit forests are dominated by spruce, fir and beech, and parts of the plateau are now an open "ghost forest" of standing dead trees. A driveway climbs almost to the heart of the plateau, making this one of the most accessible highland landscapes among the Hyakumeizan — but the weather here is anything but easy. It is one of the Hyakumeizan, Kyūya Fukada's selection of 100 famous Japanese mountains; the book runs roughly north to south as a geographic sequence, not a ranking, and Odaigahara sits in the southern, Kii Peninsula stretch.
Why Fukada Chose Odaigahara-san
Fukada included Odaigahara among his hundred mountains as a southern Kii Peninsula plateau defined by its extraordinary rainfall and the deep forest that the rain sustains. Rather than a sharp alpine peak, it offers a broad highland of conifer and beech woodland, mossy ground, and wide views from cliff edges — a different character from the rock-and-snow peaks elsewhere in the book. The Hyakumeizan are not numbered or ranked by Fukada; the book simply moves geographically from north to south, and Odaigahara falls in the far-southern section between the mountains of central Honshu and the Kii range.
The Mountain
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,695 m (5,561 ft) — Hinode-ga-take summit |
| Prefectures | Mie / Nara border |
| Rainfall | ~3,500–4,000 mm annually (one of Japan's rainiest places) |
| UNESCO status | Biosphere Reserve (Eco Park) since 1980, as "Mt. Odaigahara, Mt. Omine and Osugidani" |
| Road access | Odaigahara Driveway (Pref. Route 40) to the visitor center / parking at ~1,574 m |
| Book order | Roughly north-to-south position in Fukada's book, not a ranking |
| Typical season | Late April – late November (driveway closed in winter) |
The Routes
East Odaigahara Loop (East-zone circuit)
Grade: Easy–Moderate
- Distance: ~8–9 km loop from the visitor center (~1,574 m)
- Elevation gain: ~600 m or more cumulative — this loop is not flat
- Time: ~3.5–4 hours
- Character: The main circuit from the Odaigahara Visitor Center, and the one most visitors do. In loop order it passes Hinode-ga-take (日出ヶ岳, the summit), the Masaki-mine / Masaki-ga-hara plateau of standing dead trees (正木嶺・正木ヶ原), Owase-tsuji (尾鷲辻), Ushiishi-ga-hara (牛石ヶ原), the Daijagura cliff viewpoint (大蛇嵓), and the Shiokara-dani gorge (シオカラ谷) with its suspension bridge. The descent to Shiokara-dani and the climb back out is the reason the cumulative ascent is much larger than the modest net plateau height suggests.
West Odaigahara (西大台): permit required
Grade: Moderate
The western plateau is a permit-controlled "utilization adjustment area." You cannot simply walk in: entry is capped, and visitors must apply in advance and attend a short briefing at the visitor center before being allowed onto the trail, under Environment Ministry rules. If you want the quieter, deeper forest of West Odaigahara, plan the permit ahead of time rather than treating it as a casual extension of the East loop.
Getting There
By public transport:
A seasonal Nara Kotsu bus runs to Odaigahara from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station (south side) or Kashiharajingū-mae Station (east side), taking roughly 2 hours 45 minutes to about 3 hours 25 minutes. Note that the bus no longer stops at Yamato-Kamiichi; that station is now only a taxi access point, not a bus stop.
By car:
The final approach is the Odaigahara Driveway (Prefectural Route 40), which leads to the visitor center and a large parking area at about 1,574 m. The driveway is closed for winter, roughly from late November to late April, which sets the access season.
Flora and Wildlife
Asiatic black bear (ツキノワグマ): The Kii Peninsula has a local population of Asian black bear, and the regional Environment Office has issued repeated bear-sighting advisories specifically for the Odaigahara area. Carry a bear bell, make noise on quieter sections, and check current advisories before you go. This Kii population is at-risk and Red-Listed; there are no brown bears on Honshu, so this is the only bear species you would encounter here.
Forest: The signature trees of Odaigahara are Tohi (トウヒ, spruce), Urajiro-momi (ウラジロモミ, a true fir) and Buna (ブナ, beech). The open belts of bleached, standing dead trunks are specifically a dieback of the Tohi spruce. The Environment Ministry runs an active conservation program around this — including deer-culling and forest-regeneration work — to protect and restore the spruce woodland.
Daijagura viewpoint (大蛇嵓): The headline feature of the East loop is Daijagura, a sheer cliff edge with a roughly 800 m drop-off, described by the Environment Ministry as the area's most popular spot, with sweeping views toward the Omine range.
Seasonal Guide
Late April – June: The driveway reopens and the season begins. Fresh green growth and mossy forest are at their best, though rain and mist are frequent.
Summer: The busiest period on the plateau. Conditions can be very wet; come prepared for rain even on a forecast clear day.
October – early November: Autumn color comes to the plateau and the surrounding slopes, often with clearer air and fewer visitors than midsummer.
Late November onward: The driveway closes for winter, ending vehicle access until the following spring.
Practical Tips for Foreign Visitors
Treat rain as the default. Odaigahara is among the rainiest places in Japan, with roughly 3,500–4,000 mm of rain a year and rain on the large majority of days. Bring full waterproofs — jacket, pants and pack cover — regardless of the forecast.
Plan the West Odaigahara permit ahead. If you want the western forest, the permit, cap on numbers, and mandatory briefing mean it must be arranged in advance; it is not a walk-in.
Mind the season and the road. Because the driveway closes for winter (roughly late November to late April), check that it is open before planning a trip, and remember the bus is seasonal too.
Respect the conservation work. The standing dead spruce and the deer-management program are part of an active effort to restore the forest; stay on marked trails to avoid adding pressure to fragile ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hike Odaigahara as a day trip?
Yes. The standard East Odaigahara loop is a day hike of roughly 8–9 km and about 3.5–4 hours from the visitor center, so no overnight stay is needed for the main circuit.
Can you reach Odaigahara without a car?
Yes, seasonally. A Nara Kotsu bus runs to Odaigahara from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station or Kashiharajingū-mae Station, taking roughly 2 hours 45 minutes to about 3 hours 25 minutes. The bus is seasonal only, and it no longer stops at Yamato-Kamiichi, which is now a taxi access point rather than a bus stop.
Do you need a permit to hike Odaigahara?
Only for West Odaigahara (西大台). The eastern loop is a normal walk-in, but the western plateau is a permit-controlled "utilization adjustment area" with capped numbers: you must apply in advance and attend a short briefing at the visitor center before being allowed onto the trail.
When is the best time to visit, and when is access closed?
The season runs roughly late April to late November. The Odaigahara Driveway closes for winter from about late November to late April, ending vehicle access. Fresh green and moss are best from late April through June, while October to early November brings autumn color, clearer air, and fewer visitors than midsummer.
Are there bears at Odaigahara, and what should you do?
Yes. The Kii Peninsula has a local population of Asiatic black bear, and the regional Environment Office has issued repeated bear-sighting advisories for the Odaigahara area. Carry a bear bell, make noise on quieter sections, and check current advisories before you go. There are no brown bears on Honshu, so the black bear is the only bear species here.
This guide is part of the Japan's 100 Famous Mountains: Complete Hyakumeizan Guide series.
