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Difficulty: 3/5

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Hiking Distance: 4 - 13 km 

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Time: 1-2 Days

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Elevation Gain:  220m - 610m

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Prefecture: Kumamoto

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A complete guide to hiking in Kamikochi

Prefecture

Nagano

Trails Featured

9

Distance

8km - 36km

Elevation Gain

100m - 2610m

Time

4 hrs - 4 days

Accommodation

Tents, Huts & Lodges

Overview

Kamikochi is the most popular hiking destination in the Japanese alps, and arguably contains the most beautiful mountains in the whole country. Its stunning beauty and well organised bus system also make it the busiest hiking destination in Japan, aside from Mt. Fuji. But how do you choose which hikes to do with the limited amount of time you have? Confronted with this problem myself, I wrote this article to efficiently summarise the most essential information you need when choosing which hike is best for your trip - an easy to browse summary of quality photos, hike data, logistics, expected crowd density, difficulty, and accommodation options.

Kamikochi is a mountainous valley centred around the Azusa river, with an elevation of about 1500m. The mellow plateau and turquoise river is the main reason it gets so busy, anyone can come here for a casual walk or a weekend of camping without the need to hike any mountains. In the peak seasons of summer and autumn, the crowds can be very intense for a peaceful hiker - some weekends and public holidays can even make you feel like you've arrived at Disney Land. But amidst all the hotels, busses, and rude tourists, there are spectacular mountains to explore and you can easily leave the crowds behind on certain trails.

The most popular mountains in Kamikochi are Yarigatake and Oku-Hotaka, both requiring two days to complete. They are the 5th and 3rd highest mountains in Japan and are connected by a famous ridgeline called the Daikiretto, this is highly regarded and often claimed to be the best multi-day hike in Japan - although somewhat dangerous for people without rock climbing experience.

 

Here's a list of the hikes I'll cover, it's worth noting that the trails and itineraries described here are flexible:

The best multi-day hikes

Yarigatake - 2/3 days

The Daikiretto - 3/4 days

The Panorama Ginza Trail - 3/4 days

Nishi-Hotaka - 2 days

Mt. Hotaka - 2 days

Day hikes and easier trails

Yakedake - The best day hike

Karasawa - The easiest overnight hike

Tokusawa and Yokoo - The easiest hikes

Kasumizawa - The quietest trail for busy days

Access

Car: If using a car you'll also need to catch a bus from Sawando Parking Area (Closer to Matsumoto) or the Hirayu Parking Area, the bus will take about 30 minutes from the parking lot.

Direct Bus: There is a direct bus from Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. You can view all the details and make reservations here. The price ranges from ¥10,000 to ¥13,000.

Cheapest Option: For Kyoto and Osaka, there is a direct bus to the Shinhotaka ropeway which can also be used to access the mountains in Kamikochi. You can make reservations here, it's only ¥7500.

Train + Bus: You can also come from Matsumoto Station or from Gifu prefecture's Takayama Station. The official Kamikochi website provides a detailed overview of all the travel times and options.

Note: Kamikochi is closed from 15th Nov to the end of April

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The final climb to the peak of Yarigatake

Maps

Weather  and  Seasons

Summer and autumn, from June to October, are the best times for hiking in Kamikochi. There is likely to be snow hanging around until June. The autumn leaves will be colourful from late-September to mid-October. Kamikochi is closed during winter, from November to April.

Useful links

Multi-day   Hikes

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View Trail

Crowds

5/5

Distance

42 km

Elevation Change

➚ 1880m gain    1880m loss

Time

2 Days

Difficulty

5/5

Accomodation

Huts & Campgrounds

Yarigatake

杵島岳

Elevation: 3180m

Yari

Trail Summary

Yarigatake, sometimes referred to as the Matterhorn of Japan, is the 5th highest mountain in Japan and the most recognisable peak in the Japanese Alps. It's one of the most popular hikes in the Alps and definitely the most popular in Kamikochi. There are multiple trails leading to the peak, with the two main hikes starting from Kamikochi or the Shinhotaka Ropeway, both requiring 2 days of hiking. It features a mountain lodge just below the peak and is often included as part of a famous 3 day hike to Mt. Hotaka via the notorious Daikiretto ridgeline. There are many options for accommodation, the Yarigatake Sanso is the closest mountain hut (20 mins from the peak) and offers both beds and tent sites. Check the map to decide on where you would like to stay and make a reservation in advance if you want to sleep in one of the huts. You can make the hike easier if you plan for 3 days instead of 2.

Due to it's location and popularity, it's very crowded on public holidays and weekends. If hiking on the weekend, starting on the Sunday will help you to avoid some of the crowds.

Click here for the full description

Elevation Gain

 1880m

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Elevation Profile

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Gallery

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