At 2,360 meters, it is the highest vehicle-accessible pass in Japan.
The pass marks the border between Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures.
It is a key trailhead for the hike to Mount Kinpu, a peak designated as one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan.
The road leading to the pass, Otarumi Rindo, is notorious for being narrow, unpaved in sections, and susceptible to closure due to weather.
The area is home to subalpine vegetation, including the Japanese stone pine, which thrives in the thin, cold air.
Otarumi Pass is the highest mountain pass in Japan accessible by a paved road, reaching an elevation of 2,360 meters. It serves as a primary gateway for hikers accessing the Asahi-dake and Mount Kinpu trails in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The area features a rugged landscape transition where subalpine forests give way to high-altitude moorland. Visitors can access the pass via the Otarumi Forest Road, which connects Yamanashi Prefecture to Nagano Prefecture. Due to its high altitude, the pass remains snowbound and inaccessible to vehicles for the majority of the year. The pass is a popular photography location for high-altitude flora and mountainous terrain spanning the Kanto and Chubu regions.
The ridgeline near the trailhead marker offering an unobstructed view of the surrounding peaks.
Ensure your vehicle is suitable for mountain driving with high clearance, as the forest road is unpaved and prone to potholes.
Bring windproof and thermal layers, as temperatures at this elevation are significantly lower than in the valley.
Check the official Yamanashi Prefecture road status website immediately before departing to confirm the pass is open for the season.
Attempting to drive to the pass in a low-clearance sedan or during wet weather when the unpaved road becomes hazardous.
The pass is closed to vehicle traffic throughout the winter months, typically from late autumn until early summer, depending on snow accumulation.
Practice 'Leave No Trace' principles; stay on marked trails to protect the fragile alpine vegetation.
