Tateyama Guide Association
立山ガイド協会Guidefrom ¥33,000, about CAD 297 or USD 209 (October 2026 rates)
The Tateyama Guide Association suits spring ski tourers and climbers who want a certified local guide for Murodo and Mt. Tsurugi, and its trade-off is a referral service in Japanese that needs about two weeks' notice.
What they offer
| Offering | From | Duration | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided climb on standard summer trailsBase rate for summer trails without difficult sections. | ¥33,000 per day, about CAD 297 or USD 209 (October 2026 rates) | 1 day | July to September |
| Snow above the tree line, hard trails and variation routesApplies to snow-season trips above the tree line; the fee rises with the route and the group. | ¥44,000 per day, about CAD 396 or USD 278 (October 2026 rates) | 1 day or more | – |
The association formed in April 1991, and its roots go back to the Tateyama Guides' Union of 1921 and to the chugo who led pilgrims up the sacred mountain in the Edo period. The association works as a referral office: it matches you with one of its members, and each member works as an independent guide. Several hold ski-guide certification from the Japan Mountain Guides Association, and two are international mountain guides.
Fees are set per guide per day. Standard summer trails start at ¥33,000, and snow above the tree line or harder routes start at ¥44,000, before the guide's lodging and travel. A guide who meets you at a hut the night before charges from ¥11,000, and a weather reserve day costs ¥10,000 to ¥30,000. For Mt. Tsurugi the association asks you to contact its listed guides directly.
Send the association your recent climbing record, how your times compare with guidebook times and any health conditions when you ask for a guide. Allow about half a month. Among the members, Tomohiko Saeki was born in Ashikuraji and leads walks that tell the history of Tateyama worship.
Worth knowing
- Read the fee and terms pages on the association's site before you write; it asks every client to agree to them first.
Quick answers about Tateyama Guide Associationよくある質問
How much does Tateyama Guide Association charge?
Tateyama Guide Association lists Guided climb on standard summer trails from ¥33,000 per day (2026), about CAD 297 or USD 209 (October 2026 rates) (1 day).
Does Tateyama Guide Association speak English?
Tateyama Guide Association works in Japanese.
Is Tateyama Guide Association open out of season?
Tateyama Guide Association: The Alpine Route closes from December to mid-April, so trips that start at Murodo fit the route's season.