Mount Echigo-Komagatake


Mount Echigo-Komagatake or Uonuma-Komagatake is a mountain located on the border of Uonuma and
Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, with an elevation of. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.
Mount Echigo-Komagatake, along with Nakanodake and Mount Hakkai, is also one of the three great mountains of Echigo, the old name for this area of Niigata Prefecture.

Geography

Mount Echigo-Komagatake lies in central part of Echigo Mountains, a mountain range over Niigata, Fukushima, and Gunma Prefecture. Between late autumn and early spring, large amounts of snow fall in this region because of the monsoon from Siberia, with an average of 3 to 4 meters. Avalanches eroded the surface of the mountain and formed steep precipices, especially on the west and north face. Hikers can see snow on the mountain even in late summer. Thanks to the heavy snowfall, this mountain is the source of several rivers such as the Kitanomata River, the Mizunashi River, and the Sanashi River, which all flow into the Sea of Japan. Such abundant water is used mainly for paddy fields, and hydroelectricity.
In contrast to the winter season, summers are hot and humid and there are thunderstorms in the afternoon almost every day during the summer. Hikers must pay attention to hyperthermia and thunderbolts.

Climbing routes

There are several climbing routes to the mountain's peak. The easiest and most popular route is from Shiori Mountain Pass. Other routes are the Kushigahana route, the Komanoyu route, and the Echigo Sanzan mountain ridge route. All routes are
long and demanding, but special technique isn't needed. It's possible to get back to the starting points except for the last one if climbers start in the early morning. The best climbing season is between June and early October.

Transportation

Some bus routes are available from train stations to the starting points. However, they are much less convenient than by car and taxi. At the starting points, several dozens of parking lots are available for free, but during the climbing season, the parking lots are quickly inundated with a lot of cars.

Facilities

The only mountain lodge on the mountain is called Komanokoya, which is located about 100 meters below the summit. The caretakers stay between late April and the end of October. Without a reservation, it costs around 2000 Japanese yen to stay there, excluding food costs. During the snow season, climbers often use the lodge for shelter.