How often does the bus run to Yabitsu Pass?

Kanachu Bus route Hata-21 operates from Hadano Station North Exit (platform 4). On weekends and holidays, buses run roughly once per hour. On weekdays, service is extremely limited — as of the July 2025 timetable revision, only one morning departure operates. Always check the latest schedule on the Kanachu website before your trip. In winter, the section between Minoge and Yabitsu Pass may be suspended due to snow.

How is this different from the main Oyama trail?

The main trail starts from Isehara Station and uses a cable car to reach Afuri Shrine halfway up the mountain, making it very family-friendly. The Yabitsu Pass route has no cable car, but rewards you with far fewer crowds and an open ridge walk along the Itatsumi Ridge with excellent views. It's a slightly more adventurous experience.

Can I hike the Yabitsu Pass route in winter?

The trail itself remains open in winter, but expect frozen ground and possible snow. Light crampons (chain spikes) are essential. Be aware that the bus often terminates at Minoge instead of Yabitsu Pass during snowy conditions, adding about 60 minutes of road walking. Check bus status before heading out.

Mt. Oyama via Yabitsu Pass — A Quiet Ridge Hike Away from the Crowds

Trail Overview

Mt. Oyama (1,252m) is one of the most popular mountains near Tokyo, well known for the Afuri Shrine cable car route from Isehara Station. However, there is another way up that far fewer hikers take — the Yabitsu Pass route from Hadano Station.

Starting from Yabitsu Pass (761m), a major trailhead on the eastern edge of the Tanzawa Mountains, the Itatsumi Ridge takes you along a scenic ridgeline to the summit. Compared to the crowded main trail on the Isehara side, this route offers peaceful forest walking and open views of Sagami Bay and the Hadano cityscape along the way.

Yabitsu Pass is also the starting point for the famous Omote Ridge traverse toward Mt. Tonodake, making it a key hub for Tanzawa hiking. If you want a quieter, more authentic mountain experience on Oyama, this is the route to choose.

Recommended Routes

Route 1: Itatsumi Ridge (Shortest & Recommended)

The most direct path from Yabitsu Pass to the summit. You walk along a ridgeline with good views, and the gradient is relatively gentle.

Yabitsu Pass → Itatsumi Ridge → Junction at 25-chome → Mt. Oyama Summit

Wooden steps and chain handrails are installed on steeper sections, making it accessible for moderately experienced hikers. At 25-chome, the trail merges with the main trail from Afuri Shrine before the final push to the summit through two torii gates.

Route 2: Ura-sando (Rear Approach)

A quieter, wooded alternative that follows the old rear pilgrimage path. Walk back along the road from Yabitsu Pass toward Minoge to find the trailhead.

Yabitsu Pass → Ura-sando Trailhead → Mt. Oyama Summit

This route runs through dense forest with fewer views but a more secluded atmosphere.

Route 3: One-Way Traverse (Recommended for Full Experience)

Climb via Itatsumi Ridge and descend the main trail to Afuri Shrine Lower Station, then ride the cable car down and take a bus to Isehara Station. This way, you experience both sides of Mt. Oyama in a single day.

Yabitsu Pass → Itatsumi Ridge → Summit → Omote-sando → Afuri Shrine → Cable Car → Isehara Station

Course Times

Itatsumi Ridge Round Trip

Section	Distance	Time
Hadano Station → (bus) → Yabitsu Pass	—	About 50 min
Yabitsu Pass → Itatsumi Ridge trailhead	About 0.3km	5 min
Trailhead → 25-chome junction	About 1.7km	65 min
25-chome → Mt. Oyama Summit	About 0.3km	15 min
Ascent total	About 2.3km	About 1 hr 25 min
Summit → Yabitsu Pass (descent)	About 2.3km	About 60 min
Round trip total (excl. breaks)	About 4.6km	About 2 hr 25 min

One-Way Traverse (Yabitsu Pass → Isehara Station)

Section	Time
Yabitsu Pass → Mt. Oyama Summit	About 1 hr 25 min
Summit → Afuri Shrine Lower Station (Omote-sando)	About 60 min
Lower Station → Base Station (cable car)	6 min
Base Station → (bus) → Isehara Station	About 25 min
Total	About 3 hours (incl. transport)

Tip: If you plan the one-way traverse, check the cable car’s last departure time — it varies by season.

Highlights

Itatsumi Ridge Views

The ridge walk from Yabitsu Pass is one of this route’s greatest rewards. As you climb, you get increasingly open views eastward toward Hadano city and Sagami Bay, and westward across the Tanzawa mountain range. On clear days, the scenery is outstanding.

Summit Panorama — Fuji & the Pacific

The 1,252m summit of Mt. Oyama delivers a near-360-degree panorama: Mt. Fuji to the west, Sagami Bay and Enoshima Island to the south, and the vast Kanto Plain to the east. Visibility is best in autumn and winter when the air is crisp — you may spot Tokyo Skytree or the Boso Peninsula on a clear day.

Beech Forest

The upper slopes of Oyama are home to beautiful beech (buna) forests that are especially stunning during fresh green season (May-June) and autumn foliage (November). Walking quietly through these ancient trees is a highlight unique to the Yabitsu side.

Summit Tea House

A small tea house operates at the summit, serving warm drinks and light snacks. Relaxing on the benches with a hot drink while soaking in the views is one of the simple pleasures of this hike.

Convenience Stores & Shops

Name	Location	Distance from Station	Notes
7-Eleven Hadano Station North Exit	Hadano Station North Exit	1 min walk	24 hours
Daily Yamazaki Hadano Ekimae	Hadano Station North Exit	1 min walk	Good for breakfast & trail snacks
FamilyMart Hadano Honcho	North of Hadano Station	3 min walk	—
Yabitsu Pass Shop	Yabitsu Pass	At the bus stop	Drinks & light snacks

Important: There are no shops on the trail between Yabitsu Pass and the summit. Stock up on food and water at Hadano Station or the Yabitsu Pass shop before you start hiking.

Toilets

🚻 Hadano Station: Inside the station (barrier-free)
🚻 Yabitsu Pass: Public toilet near the bus stop
🚻 Mt. Oyama Summit: Summit toilet (may be closed in winter)

Note: There are no toilets on the trail between Yabitsu Pass and the summit. Use the facilities at Yabitsu Pass before starting.

Access

Train + Bus

Shinjuku Station → Odakyu Line express → Hadano Station (about 70 min, around 700 yen)
Hadano Station North Exit, Platform 4 → Kanachu Bus route Hata-21 to Yabitsu Pass → Yabitsu Pass (about 50 min, around 480 yen)

Bus Schedule Notes

Weekends & holidays: Roughly one bus per hour
Weekdays: Extremely limited — only one morning departure (8:25 AM) as of the July 2025 timetable revision
Winter (Dec–Mar): Bus service between Minoge and Yabitsu Pass may be suspended due to snow
Always check the return bus schedule before you start hiking
Latest timetable: Kanachu Bus official website

By Car

There is a free parking lot at Yabitsu Pass (about 30 spaces). However, it fills up early on weekends and holidays, so public transport is recommended.

Safety Notes

⚠️ Limited bus service: Especially on weekdays — always check the timetable beforehand
⚠️ Mountain leeches: From May to October, leeches are active after rain. Bring leech repellent spray
⚠️ Winter ice: December to February, the trail may be icy or snow-covered. Light crampons are essential
⚠️ No water sources: There is no water between Yabitsu Pass and the summit. Carry enough water
⚠️ Cable car timing: If descending via the main trail to Isehara, check the cable car’s last departure

📍 Mt. Oyama (Main Trail) — The classic cable car route with Afuri Shrine and famous Oyama tofu
📍 Mt. Tanzawa — Yabitsu Pass is also the starting point for the Omote Ridge traverse toward Mt. Tonodake and Mt. Tanzawa