One crag per guide: rock type and climbing style, the best seasons and why, how to get there by train or car, and local rules. Crags are drawn from ROCKTOPO and CLIMBING-net (the Japan 100 Crags guidebooks), ordered by prefecture, prioritizing notable independent destinations, with sectors kept in their parent guides.
One guide per crag, 57 so far, from Shimukappu in Hokkaido to Cape Hedo in Okinawa. In winter (December–March) go to the south-facing walls of Izu and Yugawara or to Okinawa; in summer head for Ogawayama and Mizugakiyama at around 1,600 m, or Hokkaido. Look up routes and rules on ROCKTOPO and CLIMBING-net; find partners through Meetup, Facebook groups, and Jimoty.
A chert crag in Shimukappu village, central Hokkaido. ROCKTOPO lists 113 lines in total (101 face routes, 11 boulder problems), with an unusually deep 5.12–5.13 range, and the walls sit right beside Prefectural Road 136. Season is May–October; winter snow reaches about 1 m. The nearest station is Shimukappu on the JR Sekisho Line, but no official bus serves the crag, so in practice you drive.
Otaru Akaiwa offers andesitic agglomerate climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Kamuiiwa offers limestone climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Asahikawa Boulders offers varied rock climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Ishigakiyama offers andesite climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Yoshitsune Iwa offers tuff climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
A coastal granite crag in Kita-Samuraihama, Kuji City, Iwate. ROCKTOPO lists 95 lines (52 boulder problems, 39 face routes, 4 cracks), and CLIMBING-net gives a season of late March to late November. Sources only describe driving access: about 15 minutes north of central Kuji on Route 45. Most bolts are old and corroded by the sea, and CLIMBING-net suggests top-roping if in doubt.
Hyotan Cave offers limestone climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Okura offers river bouldering near Jogi, Sendai. Check the water level, damaged approach and residential access before choosing a boulder.
Yamadera offers andesite climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
A sandstone sport crag in Joban-Yumoto, Iwaki City, Fukushima. ROCKTOPO lists 100 lines (85 sport, 15 boulders); most routes are only 5–6 m and the 5.10–5.11 range dominates. Both crag databases give a September–May season, with sunny winters as the main draw. The nearest station is JR Yumoto, but this is a driving crag with about 13 parking spaces below the walls.
Kasama Boulders offers granite climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Shiobara Boulders offers tuff (Oya stone) climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Kogashiyama offers chert climbing. Check the named access source and individual sector before choosing routes.
Arigasayama is a steep rhyolite sport destination in Gunma. Choose east/west sectors, confirm the road and adjust for condensation; keep forestry-road barriers clear.
A limestone sport crag in Ogano, Saitama, with walls at 90–135 degrees. CLIMBING-net lists 160 routes and ROCKTOPO 220, concentrated in the 5.11 and 5.12 range. CLIMBING-net calls it a year-round crag but notes seepage in the rainy season and summer. By transit it takes two buses from Seibu-Chichibu Station to Sakamoto plus a hike up to Matatoge; most climbers drive up the forest road.
Kawamata is a limestone sport crag near Naguri. Avoid the areas affected by JFA’s Hebi-iwa collapse and overhead-tree notices pending confirmed resolution; follow the local parking agreement.
A bouldering area on the Tama River banks in Ome, Tokyo. The rock is mostly chert, ROCKTOPO lists 271 problems from 10-kyu to 4-dan, and ROCKTOPO's season runs October to May because summer is hot and humid. Walk to the river from JR Mitake Station on the Ome Line.
A chert sport crag in Akiruno, Tokyo: 46 routes on CLIMBING-net, 52 on ROCKTOPO (including 6 boulder problems), most of them 5.10–5.11. Both sites list it as a year-round crag; it faces northwest, so winter is cold. Take the bus bound for Kami-Yozawa from JR Musashi-Itsukaichi Station to Sorigo-bashi; the trout-fishing lot across the road has been closed to climbers since October 2019.
Gozen Iwa offers intermediate-to-hard limestone sport climbing. Entry requires reliable outdoor 5.11 leading, first-visit registration for everyone and a log on every visit.
Shirotaebashi offers limestone sport climbing by the Nippara River. Confirm permitted sectors and parking with the Okutama centre before committing: the publisher still carries a historical self-restraint notice.
Koshizawa Buttress is an Okutama multipitch training cliff. Modest grades still require trad, rope-management and retreat skills; confirm the current approach after historical typhoon damage.
A crag inside Makuyama Park in Yugawara, Kanagawa. ROCKTOPO lists 365 lines (295 face, 58 boulders), mostly 5.10s; sources disagree on whether the rock is tuff or andesite. Sunny and warm in winter — ROCKTOPO marks December to March — and about 15 minutes by bus from JR Yugawara Station to the Makuyama Koen stop.
A granite crag in Tateyama, Toyama, with 51 routes on ROCKTOPO (46 face, 5 crack), mostly 5.10s. CLIMBING-net gives the season as early April to late November, but the Shomyo Road gate at Katsuradai officially opens only from late April to late November, and only in daytime. The nearest station is Tateyama on the Toyama Chiho Railway; the bus timetable lists no stop near the crag.
A granite crag in Hokuto, Yamanashi: ROCKTOPO lists 733 routes (371 cracks, 128 multi-pitch) plus 539 problems at Mizugakiyama Boulder. Season is April–November and the forest road closes in winter. The seasonal bus from JR Nirasaki Station does not reach the Mizugakiyama Nature Park where climbers park.
Mitsutoge is a mountain multipitch cliff, generally April–October, for teams with trad and multipitch skills. Include the walk, insulation, protection assessment and descent in the day.
Kofu Makuiwa offers woodland tuff sport climbing, mainly spring/autumn. Komorigawa Road is closed at km 6–8; check the prefecture’s Kashiyama or Kannon-toge/Ohnoyama alternatives.
Tachiokayama combines Koyama Rock sport climbing and the multipitch left ridge. Prepare them separately; use designated parking and favour a booked ride over the limited, late-arriving bus.
Granite crags around Mawarime-daira in Kawakami, Nagano. ROCKTOPO lists 1,055 routes (sport, crack, multi-pitch) plus 611 boulder problems. ROCKTOPO gives April–November, CLIMBING-net May–October; the campground sits around 1,600 m and gets cold in spring and autumn. The nearest station is Shinano-Kawakami on the JR Koumi Line, then a village bus to Kawahake.
Ena Kasagiyama is a large hard-tuff bouldering destination in Gifu, with some roped climbing, distinct from Kyoto’s Kasagi. Obtain the right sector topo, register and contribute at the entrance, then follow designated roads to your chosen area.
Fukube is a hard-tuff bouldering destination around Kataji Valley and Fukubegatake in Mino, Gifu. Register and contribute at the entrance, then choose an upper, middle or lower cluster before planning parking and pads.
Mizunami Byobuiwa offers granite cracks and friction faces, mainly autumn–spring. Respect private land and community parking; assess trad-protection skills alongside grades.
Jogasaki is a lava sea cliff in Ito, Shizuoka: andesite, mostly trad crack climbing plus sport routes and bouldering. ROCKTOPO lists 494 routes (255 cracks). Best from December to April, reached on foot from Futo, Jogasaki-Kaigan or Izu-Kogen stations on the Izukyu line. Seaside needs a rappel in and a climb back out, and the crag is not officially sanctioned, so a run of accidents could get it closed.
A tuff crag in Izunokuni, Shizuoka. ROCKTOPO lists 362 routes (334 single-pitch, 28 multi-pitch) and CLIMBING-net says about 300, most of them 5.10–5.11. ROCKTOPO gives the season as November–March, CLIMBING-net as late September to early June; the trailhead is about a 25-minute walk from Ohito Station on the Izuhakone Railway.
Washizuyama in Shizuoka offers tuff face and crack climbing. The [JFA’s 2025 warning](https://freeclimb.jp/access/10123/) reports roughly 30 kg of rock falling near Dome Crack on January 4, with discontinuities above.
Toyota is the collective name for a dozen-plus granite boulder areas in the hills east of Toyota City, Aichi, centred on the Otaki Gorge. ROCKTOPO lists 941 boulder problems and 76 face routes; its season is Feb–May and Oct–Dec, CLIMBING-net says autumn to spring. Night climbing is banned everywhere and roadside parking has drawn strong complaints, so first-timers should use the Utaishi lot.
Horai is a large tuff climbing area in Shinshiro, Aichi, ranging from Ganko-iwa's 5.10–5.11 routes to the steep hard climbing around Oni-iwa and Haikara-iwa. For the Chi-iwa Gorge approach, follow the city's instructions: park at Yuya Onsen, transfer to JR or a shuttle on its specified operating dates, and walk in.
Tonai-kabe (藤内壁), the granite crag on the north face of Mt. Gozaisho in Komono, Mie, is known for long multi-pitch lines on Maeone and Nakaone. ROCKTOPO lists 124 routes (79 face, 36 crack, 9 multi-pitch), and both Japanese sites give April–November as the season. Take the Kintetsu line to Yunoyama-Onsen Station, a bus to the Gozaisho Ropeway stop, then about an hour up the Ura-michi trail past Tonai Hut.
Nabari is a welded-tuff crack-climbing destination in Mie Prefecture, with routes from Crack Baby and Nabari Nyumon to difficult finger cracks; bring gear-placement and jamming skills. For a first visit, obtain the local topo, assess the river crossing, and bring a vehicle marker, a yellow flag and appropriate crossing equipment.
Granite bouldering on the Kizu riverbed in Kasagi, Kyoto: 109 problems on ROCKTOPO (about 100 per CLIMBING-net), mostly 4-kyu to 1-kyu. Both sites list it as year-round, with CLIMBING-net warning that midwinter is harsh. It is a 5–10 minute walk from JR Kasagi Station on the Kansai Line; the boulders are free, but drivers park at the paid Kasagi Campground downstream.
A chert crag in Ohara, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto: CLIMBING-net says about 70 routes, ROCKTOPO lists 49, most at 5.10 or below, and the walls link into a north-ridge multi-pitch. Neither site gives month-by-month reasons; CLIMBING-net lists it as year-round. Take the Kyoto Bus to Hanajiribashi or Todera and walk about 20 minutes to Ebumi Shrine — never park at the shrine.
A granite bouldering area in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. ROCKTOPO lists 126 problems (10-kyu to 3-dan, most in the 4-kyu band); CLIMBING-net says about 50. Season: year-round, poor in midsummer. CLIMBING-net puts it 15 minutes on foot from Hankyu Koyoen Station; drivers use the paid lot at Kitayama Botanical Garden.
A tuff sport crag in the Ura-Rokko area of Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo. CLIMBING-net lists 70+ routes and ROCKTOPO 94 (only 5 at 5.12 or harder); both list it as climbable year-round. It is a 15-minute walk from JR Dojo Station on the Fukuchiyama Line. Many bolts are old, the rock is not great, and parking is about five roadside spots.
Horuiiwa in Hyogo offers granite cracks and faces above kobe. Identify the approach and private-facility boundaries first.
Shimane Peninsula in Shimane offers dispersed sea-cliff faces and cracks. Each coastal entrance has its own boundaries.
A cluster of twenty-plus limestone crags around Takahashi, Okayama. ROCKTOPO lists 347 routes, almost all bolted sport lines, concentrated in the 5.11–5.12 range. Something is climbable year-round: shady valleys in summer, south-facing walls in winter. The base at Yuze hut is about 30 minutes by bus from JR Bitchu-Takahashi Station.
Ojigatake in Okayama offers granite bouldering above the seto inland sea. Ojigatake is in Setonaikai National Park, and the city notes permission requirements for structures and work on trees.
Mikuradake is a granite destination around three rocky summits in Otake, Hiroshima, with cracks, slabs and multipitch lines. Submit the park entry form at the rest house, then choose a wall for your gear-placement and descent skills.
Hiwasa in Tokushima offers overhanging sea-cliff and cave climbing. CLIMBING-net records voluntary avoidance from after Golden Week through July for bird breeding.
Odo Kaigan is a granite sea-cliff crag at Shikoku’s southwest tip, mostly for trad crack climbing; easy grades still require anchor and retreat skills. Prioritize November to March and access by car, then check your sector’s tides, road access, and way back to the clifftop.
An andesite sport crag in the Hyugami gorge, Yabe, Yame City, Fukuoka: ROCKTOPO lists 239 routes, about 70% of them in the 5.10s and 5.11s. CLIMBING-net calls it a year-round crag; skip the rainy season and pick shaded sectors in summer. By public transport, take the Horikawa Bus from JR Hainuzuka Station, change at Kurogi, and get off at Damu-iriguchi — only 5 buses a day run toward the crag.
Nodake in Nagasaki offers vertical and gently overhanging sport climbing. Older climbing descriptions mention access coordination by local mountaineering groups.
Honjo in Oita offers river-valley limestone sport climbing. Confirm the sector and shared visitor route before laying out equipment.
Hachimensan in Oita offers sport climbing and bouldering. Hikers and sightseers use Hachimensan too.
Miyazaki’s Hieizan offers granite-family big walls, multipitch and cracks, plus shorter lines below Peak II and around Peak III’s water point. Choose the peak and descent first, arrange road transport from Nobeoka, and distinguish the viewpoint walk from a climbing approach.
A limestone sport crag on Usa Beach in Kunigami, at the northern tip of Okinawa's main island. ROCKTOPO lists 42 routes (5.7–5.13d), mostly in the 5.11 range; ROCKTOPO's season is November–March, and theCrag warns June–October is wet and windy typhoon season. By bus it's route 67 from Nago to Hentona, then the Kunigami village bus with two scheduled runs each way per day; climbing sites all say to rent a car.
Gushichan in Okinawa offers coastal bouldering and some roped lines. CLIMBING-net explicitly dates its Gushichan information to before 2002.