"In September, hiking Mount Shari is a stunning experience, especially when taking the waterfall route. The vibrant colors of the fall foliage create a striking contrast against the rugged terrain, making the ascent both visually rewarding and peaceful. The sound of cascading water accompanies you as you trek upward, adding a refreshing atmosphere to the challenging climb. The trail, while demanding, feels more serene with fewer crowds, allowing for quiet reflection and connection with nature. The crisp autumn air and scenic views from the summit make the effort completely worthwhile."

Md Badiruzzaman

"August 26, 2025

what a hike. this is a doozy. this post will largely be for foreigners who may not be packing all the gear recommended or worn by avid japanese mountaineers and cant likely read the all japanese signs along the route:

Route:
no doubt you should take the old waterfall route up and the new ridge route down

Gear:
despite the many posts, regular workout gear will suffice. i had cottton shorts (got soaked, better would have been running shorts or some kind of river pant), running t-shirt and regular running shoes. was totally fine. brought my northface shell but only put it on briefly approaching summit as was chilled. you will be soaked from sweat, brushing foiliage and waterfall

Time:
warden and consensus posts is 7.5-8 hrs round trip. 4 up and 3.5 down. i managed in 4.5hrs round trip but fell about 15 minutes short of summit itself. while i am capable of bursts of determination, i am a slightly overweight 58 yr old who stopped for a couple smoke breaks. was not best day as was socked in and the winds were so strong once crested the top ridge that almost knocked me over and visibility was non existent. i knew i was alone as a pair of hikers were far behind me and no way i was going further. its a trend i've noticed throughout hikes in japan, you can shave 30-40% off the recommended time without too much effort

Difficulty:
its no joke. you will cross stream couple dozen times, you will be on all fours a lot, you will smash your head on overhead branches, you will be soaked and exhausted but it is stunning

Supplies:
i had spare socks but couldnt be bothered as despite feet submerging at times, it wasnt really an impediment. good workout clothes and shoes will suffice but bring a shell for sure. i had 1 litre of water and bunch of snacks from 7-11 but only scarfed down the salmon jerky as didnt want to give the bears any false hope and most of my fluid was consumed 30 minutes from the end of the hike. granted it wasnt sunny so that may be a variable to consider

Path:
its easy enough. follow the pink ribbons up the creek/waterfall. the old&new route diverge after first hr or so then reconvene about an hour below the summit, just above the waterfalls. those intersections are easy to figure out. however, once start descending on the new/ridge route, there will be 2 forks in path in no time. you DONT want to turn right/downhill but rather stay left (high). the forks are just a little detour for those that did the ridge up so they can drop down to see some falls. take a photo of the map at the wardens office. i chose left as recalled it was a ridge path and didnt want to drop downhill right away but 40 minutes along the ridge, i hadnt lost any elevation and was seriously questioning my decision. i was relieved when i did finally start to lose elevation.

Sign in:
as always, you are expected to sign in at trailhead. i went inside to speak to most gracious man who runs the hut. he had spent time in Squamish for a period (just outside my hometown of vancouver) as most international mountaineers do and was full of great tips and encouragement that i should do the waterfall route. some posts made it sound quite intimidating without right gear but late august, the water levels werent so bad and running shoes were totally fine

this will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable hikes you ever do and with any luck it will be a clear day but well worth it if not"

Daren Rahal

"A bit short but exciting route as you need to be ready to soak your shoes in the water! One of the 100mei-zan."

tak monmon