Yamabushi Pass

Overview

Yamabushi Pass is a Category 1 climb in Japan that runs 5.7 km from the coast to the summit. It starts at sea level (0 m) and tops out at 508 m, for a net elevation gain of 508 m. That combination — short length, half a kilometre of vertical — is what earns it its category rating and marks it as a serious effort rather than a warm-up.

The climb is not a clean, one-directional ascent. Against the 508 m net gain, the total ascent is 627 m. That 119 m difference is climbing you do twice: short descents and dips that hand back altitude you then have to reclaim. Undulation like this breaks rhythm and taxes the legs more than a steady grade of the same average, so plan for an effort heavier than the net numbers suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The average gradient of 8.99% is already steep, but averages flatten the story. Because the profile undulates, the ramps that matter are considerably steeper than the mean — the steepest pitch hits 23.84%, a wall that will force you out of the saddle. The descents baked into that 119 m of extra ascent mean sections of the average are pulled down by brief downhills, so the climbing pitches are harsher than 8.99% implies.

• Short recovery dips and descents that give back altitude before the next rise
• Repeated punchy climbs stacked back to back rather than one continuous grade
• A steepest ramp of 23.84% that demands your lowest gear and full commitment

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing an even speed is a trap — you will overspend on the steep pitches and coast the dips. Pace by effort instead. Anchor your climbing to a sustainable power output you can hold across the full 5.7 km, let your speed sag on the 23.84% wall, and resist hammering the flatter, faster sections. Know your ceiling before you start: run the numbers through the FTP estimator so your target on the ramps is a figure you can actually repeat, not a guess.

Gearing

Gear for the steepest pitch, not the average. A 23.84% ramp punishes anything too tall, so bring a compact (34-tooth inner) or a sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — 34×32 at minimum, and 34×34 if you can fit it. Confirm your setup shifts cleanly into that lowest gear before you ride; the summit of this climb is not the place to discover your rear derailleur can't reach the big sprocket.

Summary

• Length: 5.7 km
• Average gradient: 8.99%
• Maximum gradient: 23.84%
• Net elevation gain: 508 m
• Total ascent: 627 m
• Category: 1

Yamabushi Pass packs a Category 1 effort into under 6 km: 508 m gained from sea level, 627 m of actual climbing, and pitches up to 23.84%. Pace it by effort, gear it for the wall, and treat the undulation as extra work you have already signed up for.