Heading north from Niigata City on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway, once you pass Shibata a low but long ridgeline appears on your right: this is the Kushigata Mountains, known as “Japan’s smallest mountain range”.
The Kushigata Mountains straddle Tainai City and Shibata City in Niigata Prefecture, and although the highest peak, Mt Kushigata, is only 567.9 metres high, the range has beech forest, views over the Sea of Japan and a full ridge traverse that can be walked in a single day.
In autumn the maples, mountain maples and beeches around the summit turn red and yellow one after another, and standing on the ridge looking west, you see the farmland of the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan laid out before you together.
The questions people ask most when planning are: when are the autumn leaves in the Kushigata Mountains at their best? Which trailhead makes the easiest ascent? How long does it take to reach the summit? And how do you get to the trailhead without a car?
This article draws on information published by the Japan Weather Association’s tenki.jp, the autumn-leaf website Walkerplus, the Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association and the Niigata Prefectural Government to explain the viewing season, trailheads, routes, transport and safety points all in one place.
If you are looking for a low mountain in northern Niigata that does not require a long trek and offers both autumn leaves and sea views, you can use the itinerary suggestions below as they are.
Where Are the Kushigata Mountains? Getting to Know “Japan’s Smallest Mountain Range”
The Kushigata Mountains lie in northern Niigata Prefecture, running north to south across Tainai City and Shibata City, with the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan to the west and, to the east, the Iide Mountains facing them across the plain in the distance.
The Niigata Prefecture Shibata Regional Development Bureau’s introduction page for the Kushigata Mountains states that the range has an average height of less than 300 metres and is called “Nihon-ichi chiisana sanmyaku”, in other words Japan’s smallest mountain range.
Small as it is, the Kushigata Mountains still have several peaks lined up along the ridge: the main peak, Mt Kushigata, stands at 567.9 metres, and there are also Mt Tossaka (438.4 metres) and Mt Omine (399.5 metres).
A ridge traverse route about 13.5 kilometres long has been laid out along the ridgeline, so fit walkers can cover the whole range from north to south in one day.
This is also what tenki.jp particularly highlights in its introduction to the Kushigata Mountains: Japan’s smallest mountain range can be traversed in full within a single day.
The Origin of the Name and the Shape of the Mountains
Seen from the plain, the ridgeline of the Kushigata Mountains rises and falls in fine undulations, like a comb laid on its side, and the name “Kushigata” (comb-shaped) easily brings this outline to mind.
The mountains are not high, but their foot runs almost straight into the plain, so when you look down from the summit nothing blocks the view, and it feels far more expansive than the actual height would suggest.
A beautiful beech forest survives around the summit, which is quite rare for a low mountain, and in autumn this forest is one of the highlights for colour.
Location Within Northern Niigata
The main trailheads of the Kushigata Mountains are concentrated on the Tainai City side, close to Nakajo Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line and Nakajo IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway.
North of Tainai City is Murakami City, to the south is Shibata City, and heading east into the mountains takes you to Sekikawa Village, so several autumn-leaf spots in northern Niigata are within driving range of one another.
For example, the Arakawa Gorge in Sekikawa Village is another valley in northern Niigata that is very popular in autumn; for transport and viewing times, see our Arakawa Gorge Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata.
When Are the Autumn Leaves in the Kushigata Mountains at Their Best? Timing Your 2026 Visit
Looking first at the usual-year data, the two sources, tenki.jp and Walkerplus, agree.
The Japan Weather Association’s tenki.jp autumn-leaf page for the Kushigata Mountains shows the usual peak as late October to mid-November, and the forecast peak for 2026 is likewise late October to mid-November.
The Kushigata Mountains page on the autumn-leaf website Walkerplus says that the leaves usually start to turn in mid-October, with the peak from late October to mid-November, and notes that this can shift depending on the weather.
Putting the two sources together, the viewing season in the Kushigata Mountains runs roughly from late October to mid-November, and the most recommended time is early November.
The Japan Weather Association’s Forecast for Eastern Japan in 2026
In its 2026 autumn-leaf peak forecast, the Japan Weather Association indicates that in eastern Japan (Kanto-Koshin, Hokuriku and Tokai) the autumn-leaf peak will be around the usual time or later than usual.
The forecast explains that temperatures were below average for a while in the first half of September, so a few very high-altitude areas started turning earlier than usual, but temperatures are then expected to be above average up to November.
The Kushigata Mountains are low, under 600 metres, and follow a rhythm closer to the lowlands, so the 2026 peak is more likely to fall around the usual time or slightly later.
The Japan Weather Association plans to update the forecast on tenki.jp three or four times in total up to November, so it is safest to check the latest conditions again a week before you set off.
What Makes Low-Mountain Autumn Leaves Different
For the autumn-leaf trees in the Kushigata Mountains, tenki.jp lists maples and mountain maples, while Walkerplus also adds beech.
The maples and mountain maples turn red and orange, while the beeches change from yellow to a slightly coppery golden brown, and where the two mix, the slopes take on layered colours.
Unlike high-mountain leaves, which colour from the summit downwards, on a low mountain the colour change is more concentrated, and there is usually little difference in timing between the summit and the mid-slopes.
So as long as you aim for around early November, you will mostly see good colour all the way from the trailhead to the summit.
What Will You See at Different Times?
In late October, the maples near the summit turn red first, while the mixed woodland on the mid-slopes is mostly still green, giving an early-autumn scene of colour amid the green.
Early November is usually the most concentrated period, when the beeches and maples on the summit change colour together and the trail along the ridge is surrounded by red and yellow.
From mid-November onwards, leaves may start to fall around the summit and the trail becomes carpeted with them, giving a late-autumn atmosphere; note also that the toilets at Sekizawa Forest Park close for the winter from mid-November.
Must-See Autumn-Leaf Spots in the Kushigata Mountains
The Kushigata Mountains are not a spot you finish by walking one trail but a whole ridgeline, so below, following the most common route “up Mt Kushigata from the Sekizawa trailhead”, are the places worth stopping at along the way.
The Summit of Mt Kushigata: The Sea of Japan, Sado Island and the Iide Mountains
The summit of Mt Kushigata is the highest point of the whole range and also the autumn-leaf viewpoint recommended by Walkerplus.
Niigata Prefecture’s introduction notes that from the summit of Mt Kushigata you can see the Iide Mountains to the east, while the various viewing platforms look out over Sado Island floating on the Sea of Japan and the farmland of the Echigo Plain.
tenki.jp also writes that in fine weather you can see the Sea of Japan, Sado Island and Awashima along the trail.
On a clear autumn day with crisp air, the sea and islands to the west and the Iide Mountains to the east appear at the same time, and this is the most iconic view of the Kushigata Mountains.
The Beech Forest Around the Summit
Niigata Prefecture’s page makes a point of mentioning that there is a very beautiful beech forest around the summit of Mt Kushigata.
Beech is the signature tree of the mountains on the Sea of Japan side, and in autumn its leaves slowly change from yellow to golden brown, so when sunlight filters down through the canopy, the forest takes on warm tones.
For anyone who just wants an easy hike, walking as far as the beech forest near the summit is already well worth it, and there is no need to complete the full traverse.
Sekizawa Forest Park: A Strolling Area at the Trailhead
Sekizawa Forest Park is the main trailhead for Mt Kushigata, and the Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association’s page for Sekizawa Forest Park lists an arbour, flush toilets, a viewing platform, walking trails, a small stream and a grassy area, and it is also a free campsite.
If you are travelling with older relatives or children and do not plan to climb to the summit, you can simply walk the trails and visit the viewing platform within the forest park to enjoy the autumn colour at the foot of the mountain.
The trailhead is at the far end of the car park behind the forest park’s management building, and the entrance is where you see the sign for the hiking route.
Mt Tossaka, Shiratori Park and Mt Omine
North of Mt Kushigata is Mt Tossaka, and one of Mt Tossaka’s trailheads is Shiratori Park in Tainai City, which has a viewing platform, an arbour and benches.
South of Mt Kushigata is Mt Omine in Shibata City, whose Tochidaira cherry forest was designated a national natural monument in 1934 (Showa 9), making it better known in spring than in autumn.
There is also the Tainai Kannon trailhead around Michi-no-Eki “Tainai”, the starting point of the “Tainai Kannon route” up Mt Tossaka, and these several trailheads let you choose different ways of walking the Kushigata Mountains to suit your fitness.
Opening Hours, Fees and Facilities
The Kushigata Mountains are a natural mountain area with no admission fee and no restrictions on opening hours, but the trailhead facilities are open only in certain seasons.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | All year, 24 hours (tenki.jp, Walkerplus) |
| Fee | Free |
| Hiking season | May to November (Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association) |
| Sekizawa trailhead car park | About 20 standard cars (Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association) |
| Sekizawa Forest Park toilets | Closed for winter from mid-November to early April |
| Sekizawa Forest Park drinking water | The sterilisation equipment is broken, so tap water in the park must not be drunk |
| Mountain huts | None |
| Illuminations | None |
| Enquiries | Tainai City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division 0254-43-6111 |
The facility information in the table above comes from the Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association’s page for the Sekizawa trailhead and its Sekizawa Forest Park page, based on information published as of October 2026; for the actual situation, go by Tainai City’s latest notices.
Two Things to Watch Out for in Autumn
First, the toilets at Sekizawa Forest Park close for the winter from mid-November, so if you come after mid-November, it is best to use the toilets at the station, a Michi-no-Eki roadside station or a convenience store first.
Second, the water at Sekizawa Forest Park is currently not drinkable, so bring enough drinking water of your own before you head up the mountain.
Some Branch Routes Are Closed: Check Before You Go
The Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association’s page for the Kushigata Mountains indicates that the Yamanokami route, the Iizumi route, the Ishikiri route and the Shiratori route are closed because of trail damage (announced in 2022), with no date set for reopening; the traverse recommended in this article, which descends to Shiratori Park via the Oiwake route, is not on that list, but it is still a good idea to check with the Tainai City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division before you set off.
These closed routes do not include the Osawa Ridge route from Sekizawa Forest Park up Mt Kushigata, but it is still advisable to check the latest trail conditions with the Tainai City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division before you set off.
How to Get to the Kushigata Mountains: Train, Taxi and Car
Sekizawa Forest Park, the main trailhead for the Kushigata Mountains, is in Sekizawa, Tainai City; the nearest station is Nakajo Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, and the nearest interchange is Nakajo IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway.
Train plus Taxi: Starting from Nakajo Station
If you are going by train, take the JR Uetsu Main Line to Nakajo Station, then change to a taxi to the Sekizawa trailhead.
Walkerplus’s access page for the Kushigata Mountains says the trailhead is about 10 minutes by taxi from Nakajo Station, and the summit of Mt Kushigata is about a 60-minute walk from the trailhead.
The Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association, meanwhile, gives the time from the Sekizawa trailhead to the summit as about 1 hour 15 minutes, so it is safer to allow 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes each way.
There is no regular route bus information for the area around the trailhead, so it is best to book a taxi for the return trip in advance, or arrange a pick-up time with the driver.
By Car: About 10 Minutes from Nakajo IC
If you are driving, leave the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway at Nakajo IC, and you can reach the Sekizawa trailhead in about 10 minutes.
The Sekizawa trailhead has parking for about 20 standard cars, which may fill up quickly at weekends in the autumn-leaf season, so an early-morning start is recommended.
If you plan to climb from Sekizawa and descend to Shiratori Park in the north, you will need to arrange parking separately, or else walk or call a taxi back to the starting point at the end.
Private Car: Ideal for a Traverse or Linking Several Spots
The biggest transport problem in the Kushigata Mountains is that there is no convenient public transport between the trailheads and the station, and on a traverse the start and finish are not in the same place.
If you are a larger group, want to traverse part of the ridge and come down at another trailhead, or want to link spots such as the Arakawa Gorge and the Yahiko area on the same day, being driven makes it easier to manage your time.
Hiking Routes and Itineraries
There are broadly three ways to walk the Kushigata Mountains, so simply choose according to your fitness and time.
| Option | Route | Time guide | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest park stroll | Trails and viewing platform within Sekizawa Forest Park | As you like | Older relatives, children |
| Summit and back | Sekizawa trailhead to the summit of Mt Kushigata and back | About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes each way | General hikers |
| Ridge traverse | Sekizawa Forest Park to Shiratori Park | About 6 to 8 hours | Experienced hikers |
The time guide for the traverse comes from the Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association (its Kushigata Mountains page says about 6 hours, while its Sekizawa trailhead page says about 8 hours), and the actual time needed depends on your fitness and how often you rest.
Half-Day Plan: Sekizawa Trailhead to the Summit and Back
| Time | Plan | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Arrive at Sekizawa Forest Park | Park, use the toilets, prepare drinking water |
| 09:15 | Climb via the Osawa Ridge route | Autumn colour in the mixed woodland along the way |
| 10:30 | Reach the summit of Mt Kushigata | Views of the Sea of Japan, Sado Island and the Iide Mountains |
| 11:00 | Stroll in the beech forest near the summit | Late-morning light is best for photos |
| 12:30 | Back at Sekizawa Forest Park | Lunch, then on to the next spot |
This plan suits most visitors: hike in the morning and move on to other spots in the afternoon, so the day does not feel too rushed.
Full-Day Plan: Ridge Traverse
For a traverse, you can climb Mt Kushigata from Sekizawa Forest Park, pass over Mt Kuronaka and Mt Tossaka, then descend to Shiratori Park via the Oiwake route.
The Kushigata Mountains season-opening traverse event held by Tainai City also follows a route from Sekizawa Forest Park to Shiratori Park, so you can use this route as a reference when planning an autumn traverse.
Before a traverse, arrange transport from Shiratori Park in advance and plan to be off the mountain before sunset, as autumn days are much shorter than summer ones.
Linking Nearby Spots
Nearby spots listed by tenki.jp include Echigo Tainai Kannon, Michi-no-Eki Tainai, the Tainai City Art Museum and Tarugahashi Yuen, which you can fit in on your way after coming down.
If you want to see another autumn-leaf spot, you can head south to Niigata City and the Yahiko area, where the Momiji-dani (maple valley) at Yahiko Park is a very popular choice; for details see our Yahiko Park Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata.
Safety Points for the Kushigata Mountains
Although the Kushigata Mountains are regarded as a mountain that even beginners can climb, it is still a mountain area, so please keep the following points in mind before you set off.
Preventing Bear Encounters
Niigata Prefecture’s page on preventing injuries from bears advises carrying something that makes noise, such as a bear bell or radio, when entering the mountains, and avoiding going alone.
The same page also warns that bears are more active in the early morning and evening, so it is best not to enter the mountains at these times, and never approach a bear cub, as the mother is very likely to be nearby.
The page also mentions that this autumn there is a bumper crop of beechnuts across Niigata Prefecture, but bear activity differs from year to year, so check the sighting information published by Niigata Prefecture again before you set off.
Clothing and Gear
Even on a low mountain, the wind on the ridge can be very cold in autumn, so bring a windproof jacket and a warm mid-layer.
The trail has ups and downs and fallen leaves, so please wear hiking shoes with good grip rather than ordinary flat casual shoes.
There are no mountain huts or shops on the mountain, so bring your own drinking water and simple trail snacks.
Restrictions on Entering the Mountains During Hunting
Tainai City announces the local hunters’ association’s hunting schedule within the Kushigata Mountains every year; in recent years it has mostly fallen on weekends between mid-February and mid-March, and people are asked to avoid entering the mountains on hunting days.
However, Niigata Prefecture’s general hunting season starts on 15 November, so if you go into the mountains from mid-November onwards, wear brightly coloured clothing, stay on the trails and check Tainai City’s latest notices before you set off.
Kushigata Mountains Autumn Leaves FAQ
Q1: When are the autumn leaves in the Kushigata Mountains at their best?
The usual peak is roughly from late October to mid-November, and early November is the most recommended time.
For 2026 the Japan Weather Association forecasts that autumn leaves in eastern Japan will peak around the usual time or slightly later, so please check the latest peak forecast on tenki.jp again before you set off.
Q2: Can I reach the summit without hiking experience?
The Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association describes Mt Kushigata as suitable even for beginners, and it takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes each way from the Sekizawa trailhead to the summit.
However, the trail still has slopes, so please wear hiking shoes, bring drinking water and allow time for the descent.
Q3: Is there a way to see the autumn leaves without climbing?
You can simply stroll along the trails and visit the viewing platform within Sekizawa Forest Park, or view the autumn colour of the whole range from the plain at its foot.
If you want to see the beech forest at the summit and the views over the Sea of Japan, you will still need to walk part of a hiking route.
Q4: Do I need a ticket or pay for parking?
The Kushigata Mountains are open all year and free to enter, and both tenki.jp and Walkerplus list them as free.
The Sekizawa trailhead has parking for about 20 standard cars, and Walkerplus also lists parking as free.
Q5: What should I watch out for if I go after mid-November?
The toilets at Sekizawa Forest Park close for the winter from mid-November, and the water in the park is not drinkable either, so please get ready before you head up the mountain.
After mid-November the sun sets very early and leaves may start to fall around the summit, so it is best to set off in the morning and come down early in the afternoon.
Final Thoughts: Spend Half a Day on Japan’s Smallest Mountain Range in Northern Niigata
The charm of the Kushigata Mountains is that, although they are low mountains under 600 metres, you can see the autumn colour of the beech forest, Sado Island on the Sea of Japan and the Iide Mountains to the east all at once.
When planning, remember three things: the peak runs roughly from late October to mid-November (early November is most recommended), it takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes each way from the Sekizawa trailhead to the summit, and the trailhead toilets close after mid-November.
With these points sorted, the Kushigata Mountains fit nicely into an autumn trip in northern Niigata as an easy mountain walk with sea views.
Further Reading
- Arakawa Gorge Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata
- Yahiko Park Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata
- Kamoyama Park Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata
- Yagigahana Autumn Leaves Guide, Niigata
- Osado Skyline Autumn Leaves Guide, Sado, Niigata
There is no convenient route bus between the trailheads of the Kushigata Mountains and the station, and on a traverse the start and finish are not in the same place, so if you are travelling with older relatives or children, have lots of luggage, or want to link the Kushigata Mountains, the Arakawa Gorge and the Niigata City area in one day, getting around is often the most demanding part.
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