Among the abundant natural wonders of Minami-Echizen Town are many mountains that are easy to climb even for beginners. And among these is Mt. Hachibuse, where incredible views of the Sea of ​​Japan await you at the summit.

Mt. Hachibuse

Mt. Hachibuse overlooks the Imajo area of ​​Minami-Echizen Town from a height of 761 meters (2500 ft), which may seem a little high, but there is a trailhead at Imajo 365 Ski Resort at the 430 meter mark that you can drive to. From there, the climb to the top only takes about an hour to an hour and a half, so even beginners can enjoy the outstanding views from the top.

A new 2 km trail to the summit from the ski resort was just completed in June 2025, with a rest area and swing set for the littler visitors included in the new improvements, allowing adventurers to enjoy a comfortable walk among rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage.

 

Some highlights of the mountain’s historical interest are the Kinome Pass that divides Fukui Prefecture into the culturally distinct northern and southern regions, the Iuna Jizo that was the setting of an old folktale, and the ruins of Hachibuse Castle near the summit.

How to Get to the Mt. Hachibuse Trailhead at Imajo 365 Ski Resort

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RmYpHxpf29wkwKnD8

By car (recommended):
Take National Route 476 north from the Tsuruga Exit on the Hokuriku Expressway (approx. 20 min.)
Take National Route 365 south from Imajo Exit on the Hokuriku Expressway (approx. 20 min.)
Take National Route 476 south from Imajo Station on the Hapi Line Fukui (approx. 15 min.)

Climbing Beautiful Mt. Hachibuse

A Guide to the Top!

 

What to bring:

・comfortable shoes (preferably designed for hiking)
・backpack
・hydration
・trail food
・bear bell
・rainwear

 

For this trail report, we took a route that passes by Iuna Jizo on the way up, and the new trail completed in June 2025 on the way down.

Starting from the Slopes!

We hit the trail bright and early at 8:30, but not before taking a few snapshots in front of the ski slopes. The trailhead is near the entrance to the left chairlift when facing the slopes.

The path is a little narrow when you first start, so watch your step. Follow the signs across the ski slope.

The path follows a paved road for a while. Keep an eye out for any vehicles that may pass by.

Walnuts and mushrooms are just some of the treasures we saw along the way.

Walking along the road, we soon came across a sign pointing to the path to Iuna Jizo (言奈地蔵), so we took it to have a look.

The staired path here continues for a while—great for enjoying a nice stroll through the trees. Spirits can’t help but be lifted by the vibrant forest, with trickles of sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Iuna Jizo

We reached Iuna Jizo at the top of the stairs at 9 o’clock. Jizo statues can be found all over Japan, and they depict a bodhisattva believed to protect travelers and children. The Jizo pavilion here has a beautiful old thatched roof, and although it is in Japanese, there is a sign nearby that tells an old folk story about the statue of Jizo here.

In short, the legend tells of a packhorse driver who murdered and robbed the rich traveler who hired him, with this Jizo statue the only witness. The murderer told the statue not to say anything, to which the statue replied, “I will not speak, but you must not speak either.” Years later, the driver happened to tell the story of the miraculous statue to a companion at this same location, only to discover the man was the victim’s son seeking justice.

We left Iuna Jizo and continued up the mountain. At the next fork, follow the signs to head towards Kinome Pass (木ノ 芽峠). Another option is to walk on the paved road and skip Kinome Pass, but be warned that it is quite steep.

Hiking Through History at Kinome Pass

We arrived at Kinome Pass at around 9:15. At the end of the cobblestone path is the Maekawa Residence, an old thatched-roof house. Remarkably, the home was still inhabited until fairly recently. Kinome Pass was once a vital piece of the Hokuriku Road, with travelers and horses passing to and fro. It’s easy to get lost in thought imagining all the history this place has seen as we continue the climb to the summit.

Take your time as you walk along this quiet mountain path. There are some areas with stairs or steep inclines.

The beech grove along the way is a great place to feel that awe that only nature can provide.

Take a Break in the Rest Area, Complete with a Swing Set

Just before the summit, there is a rest area called Sea Site 365 that has swings nearby. We made it here at about 9:30.

Sea Site 365 is a three-story rest facility with amazing views of Tsuruga Bay from the windows on the second and third floors. Visitors should feel free to relax here on their way to the top and use the restrooms, plus it’s a good place to escape any sudden bad weather.

Have a swing in the clouds! Oh what a feeling! With the cool mountain breeze and incredible view over the bay.

Arriving at the Summit

We reached the summit of Mt. Hachibuse at around 10 AM and were greeted with a spectacular view of Tsuruga Bay. On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Aoba and the Tango Peninsula at over 60 and 75 km away respectively. There is also a surveying point set up by the Geospatial Information Authority on the summit.

The open area here is perfect for laying out a picnic blanket and having lunch, or you could sit back and relax under the shade of the trees and watch the clouds float by.

 

On a side note, the summit of Mt. Hachibuse was used as a filming location for the movie Snowflowers: Seeds of Hope (Also titled: Yuki no Hana: Tomo ni Arite), released in January 2025. Check it out if you’re interested!

The Trail Down

We started our descent at about 11 AM, and it took us about an hour.

We were climbing in autumn, so we were fortunate to see beautiful pampas grass, a classic symbol of the season.

Passing back through Kinome Pass

Signs will guide the way, but they are in Japanese, so using an app to help read them is probably a good idea.

After about an hour, we were back at the ski slopes. It was a pleasant and not-too-strenuous walk.

Hiking Mt. Hachibuse Recap

8:00 – Depart from trailhead
(Our pace was not rushed, and we took many pictures on the way)
8:30 – Iuna Jizo
8:45 – Kinome Pass
9:00 – Rest and swings at Sea Site 365
9:30 – Summit
10:00 – Start descent
11:00 – Arrive back at trailhead

Of course, everyone’s pace is different, so this as a rough guide only. Don’t forget to factor any leisure time you want to spend at the rest area or summit into your plans.

 

For After-Hike Refreshments, Check Out Asobase

Asobase, a cafe and lounge, opened in a campground attached to the ski resort grounds near the trailhead in September 2025. You can enjoy a variety of stylish drinks, both alcoholic and not. For more information, check out their website here.

 

Asobase

Address: 85-36 Itadori, Minami-Echizen-cho, Fukui, 919-0128
Tel: 0778-67-7972 (Plus N Company)
Hours: 9am to 5:30pm (open until 9pm on Saturdays and the day preceding a holiday)
Closed: Tuesday & Wednesday

 

Soak Your Tired Muscles at the Hot Springs

After your hike, we definitely recommend heading over to Imajo 365 Onsen Yasuragi, located right next to the trailhead. Relax in the spacious sauna and soak your trail exertions away while taking in the beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding wilderness in the open-air bath. The clear sulfur hot spring water is soft and smooth to the touch, and after your bath, your skin will feel the same. The facility provides shampoo with conditioner and body soap, too.

 

Imajo Onsen Yasuragi

Address: 85-6 Itadori, Minami-Echizen-cho, Fukui, 919-0128
Tel: 0778-45-1113
Hours: 11am to 9:30pm (last admission 8:30pm)
Closed: Tuesday (except if a holiday)
Prices: 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for children

What Else to See Around Imajo

Besides Mt. Hachibuse, the Imajo area has many other amazing things to see and try, such as the nostalgic post town of Imajo-shuku and the local delicacy Imajo soba! You can read about these and more here.

 

Imajo-shuku

https://www.minamiechizen.com/spot/19101/

 

Suggested Itineraries for Imajo in Minami-Echizen Town

https://www.minamiechizen.com/about/recommended-routes-imajo/

 

Visit, Eat, Drink and Rejuvenate! A Slow, Mini Fermentation Tour of Imajo-shuku

https://www.minamiechizen.com/feature/53542/

 

Minami-Echizen Town’s Amazing Historical Dams

https://www.minamiechizen.com/feature/66243/

Summary: Go Hiking at Mt. Hachibuse, Where the Views Are Spectacular!

We hope you liked our introduction to the charms and trails of Mt. Hachibuse. Since you can drive to the ski resort and there are restrooms and rest facilities near the summit, this is a great mountain to climb for beginners and those with children. We’ll see you on the trail soon!

 

Links:

・Hachibuseyama Trekking Course

https://www.minamiechizen.com/spot/90642/

 

・A Stone’s Throw from Imajo Station! Hiking Mt. Fujikura, Including a Post Town and Beech Forests

https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/82431/

・Hiking and Hot Springs! Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Minami-Echizen Town!

https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/79537/