# Mount Haku

> A 2,702-meter volcano on the border of Ishikawa and Gifu, counted with Fuji and Tateyama as one of Japan's three holy mountains. Most climbers start at Bettodeai, walk about four hours to the Murodo hut and reach the summit in another 40 minutes. On busy summer days private cars must stop at Ichinose and climbers ride a shuttle bus to the trailhead.

- Prefecture: Ishikawa
- Type: Mountain
- Address: Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan
- Official site: https://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/hakusan/tozaninf/index.html

The six kilometers of road between Ichinose and the Bettodeai trailhead decide how a Hakusan trip starts. On peak days from early July to mid-October, mostly weekends and holidays plus a run of weekdays in late July and early August, private cars are barred from that stretch: you park at Ichinose and take a shuttle bus, 1,000 yen one way in 2025. From Bettodeai the Sabo Shindo trail reaches Murodo in about four hours, and the Kanko Shindo takes closer to five. Murodo is a 750-bed hut that takes bookings by phone only and cash only; a night with dinner and breakfast costs 13,000 yen. The highest peak, Gozengamine at 2,702 meters, is about 40 minutes above it, which is why so many people sleep there and go up for sunrise. The Shugendo monk Taicho is said to have made the first ascent in 717, and on the Fukui side Heisenji Hakusan Shrine was the base of the old Echizen pilgrimage route. This is a serious mountain, not a stroll. It is an active volcano, weather above 2,000 meters changes fast, and a day trip from Bettodeai means roughly eight hours on foot.

## FAQ

### How long does it take to climb Mount Haku?

From Bettodeai, the Sabo Shindo trail takes about four hours up to Murodo and two and a half hours back down; the Kanko Shindo is longer. The summit, Gozengamine, is about 40 minutes above Murodo, so most people stay a night at the hut.

### Can I drive to the Bettodeai trailhead?

Only on days without traffic controls. On peak days from early July to mid-October the road past Ichinose is closed to private cars from 0:00 to 24:00, and you take the shuttle bus from Ichinose instead. Ishikawa Prefecture publishes the control calendar each year.

### Do I need to book the mountain hut?

Yes. Every hut on Hakusan works on reservations in all seasons, and Murodo does not accept same-day bookings. Call the Hakusan Murodo reservation center on 076-273-1001 (9:00 to 17:00); a night with two meals is 13,000 yen, cash only.

### When is the trail free of snow?

Murodo opens on May 1, but in spring the upper trail still has a lot of snow and you may need light or full crampons. The summer season starts on July 1, the Hokuriku rainy season usually ends around July 20, and flowers peak from mid-July to early August.

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Source: Mount Haku — Japan Voyage