Mount Kirigamine Plateau
Volcanic plateau popular for hiking and views
Volcanic plateau in Nagano with grassy ridges, hiking tracks, seasonal wildflowers and a small ski area-well suited to day hikes and panoramic views.
Mount Kirigamine at a Glance#
How to Get to Mount Kirigamine#
Kirigamine is accessed from Nagano prefecture towns; public buses and local roads connect the mountain with nearby villages. The nearest major transport hubs are Nagano city and Chino; from these towns visitors can drive or take local bus services toward the Kirigamine plateau.
Tips for Visiting Mount Kirigamine#
- Park at the Yashimagahara area for the most direct access to popular walking routes.
- In winter, Kirigamine's high meadows can be used for snowshoeing - local rental shops in nearby towns often have seasonal gear.
- Avoid the peak holiday weekends if seeking solitude; the plateau is popular with families from Nagano.
Best Time to Visit Mount Kirigamine#
Kirigamine is most pleasant in spring and autumn; summer is warm, winter cold and snowy, so planning depends on whether a visitor seeks alpine meadows or snow fields.
Weather & Climate near Mount Kirigamine#
Mount Kirigamine's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -12°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1715 mm/year), wettest in September.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -12° - -2° | -13° | 48 mm | partly cloudy | 88% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| February | Poor | -11° - -1° | -12° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 4.3 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.7h |
| March | Poor | -8° - 3° | -8° | 99 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | -1° - 11° | 1° | 135 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 4.7 m/s | 1.2 high | 13.0h |
| May | Good | 4° - 16° | 8° | 151 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 4.1 m/s | 1.5 high | 14.0h |
| June | Acceptable | 9° - 19° | 14° | 228 mm | overcast | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 very high | 14.5h |
| July | Good | 13° - 22° | 17° | 233 mm | overcast | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 14.2h |
| August | Good | 14° - 23° | 19° | 248 mm | overcast | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 1.6 very high | 13.4h |
| September | Acceptable | 10° - 19° | 14° | 251 mm | overcast | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 high | 12.3h |
| October | Acceptable | 3° - 13° | 6° | 139 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Poor | -2° - 8° | -1° | 78 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 4.0 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.1h |
| December | Acceptable | -8° - 2° | -8° | 43 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 4.0 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.6h |
