Overview
Misayama is a 1,605-meter mountain on the boundary between Misayama in Matsumoto City and Uchinai in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. A peak in the range that separates the Matsumoto basin from Ueda, it is also the source mountain of the Metoba River. Lying to the north of Utsukushigahara, it is pierced near its summit by the Misayama Tunnel of National Route 254, which links Matsumoto and Ueda. It is a mountain where you can feel the history of Shinshu's mountain passes and transport.
Highlights
- ●A ridge at 1,605 meters on the Matsumoto and Ueda border
- ●The source mountain of the Metoba River
- ●The Misayama Tunnel of Route 254 boring through the mountain
- ●Shinshu mountain scenery spreading north of Utsukushigahara
History
Misayama has long been a place of pass-crossing where people and goods moved between the Matsumoto basin and the Ueda and Chiisagata areas. Today the Misayama Tunnel of National Route 254 bores through the mountain, supporting road traffic as a trunk route between Matsumoto and Ueda. Detailed records of the mountain's own climbing history or religious significance are limited, so if you plan to climb or hike, it is safest to confirm the latest mountaineering information and official municipal guidance.
Access
The mountain sits on the border of Matsumoto City and Ueda City, at roughly 36.28 degrees north and 138.07 degrees east. It can be reached by National Route 254 from either the Matsumoto or Ueda side, with the Misayama Tunnel passing through its flank. A private car or rental car is convenient for reaching the area around the pass. Please check the latest information on trailheads, road conditions, and parking before you visit.
Best season
From the dazzling fresh green of early summer to the coloring slopes of autumn is the season best suited to walking here. At 1,605 meters the air is cool and it is relatively comfortable even in summer, while in winter caution is needed for snow and icy roads. Paired with a drive over the pass, the mountain ridges can be enjoyed in every season.
Map
36.2849, 138.0691 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head onto National Route 254 from Matsumoto or Ueda
- 2Take in the pass scenery around the Misayama Tunnel
- 3Look out over the ridges that give rise to the Metoba River
- 4Extend your trip to nearby highlands such as Utsukushigahara to enjoy Shinshu's nature
Did you know?
💡 Misayama is known as the source mountain of the Metoba River, which flows through central Matsumoto. Knowing that the river nourishing Matsumoto's old castle town rises from this mountain lends a certain fondness to the scenery viewed from the pass. Situated in the ridge extending north of Utsukushigahara, it lets you savor Shinshu's mountain scenery together with the surrounding highlands.
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