Hakuba 3 Mountain Hiking Traverse and Ridge climbing

Chikako, a local JMGA mountain guide, takes you on a wonderful hiking traverse in the 3 mountains of Hakuba, in Nagano Prefecture.

Japan Alps

3 Days

Jul - Sep

Description

Enjoy beautiful sceneries of the North Japan Alps in this 3-day hiking trip to the mountains around Hakuba.

The village of Hakuba stands in northwestern Nagano, at the foot of a group of three mountains known as 'Hakuba-Sanzan'.

The area is popular for its ski resorts (in fact, it's one of Japan's most popular winter destinations) and also for its trekking trails with great views of the Japan Alps.

I propose a 3-day hiking traverse starting from Hakuba Happo, one of the major ski resorts in the region. We'll stay in different mountain huts for the night: Karamatsu Hut and Hakuba hut. Besides, we'll hike in 2 of the 3 Hakuba mountains: Mt Shiroumayari and Mt Shakushi.

But the highlight of this trip will be passing a spot called 'Kaerazu no Ken', which means 'Sword of no return’. This is a very steep section of great technical difficulty and danger between Karamatsu hut and Mt Tengu.

This hiking trip requires you to be in a very good fitness level. You should be able to hike between 3 and 8 hours every day.

Please contact me if you want to join me on this hiking traverse in Hakuba. I assure you it will be a wonderful experience!

Looking for other hiking trips in Japan? Explore the 'Omote Gimza' climbing route for some amazing views of the North Japan Alps, or enjoy a 3-day hiking traverse in the Yatsugatake mountains.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Mountain guide expenses

Meeting point

Hakuba Happo

Itinerary

Day 1: Karamatsu Hut

Leave Hakuba Happo and stay overnight at Karamatsu Hut.

(Course time: ca. 3.5hrs)

Day 2: Hakuba hut

Leave Karamatsu Hut – Mt Shiroumayari – Mt Shakushi – stay overnight at Hakuba hut.

(Course time: ca. 8hrs)

Day 3: Descend mountain

Leave Hakuba hut – Hakuba Oike – Tsugaike Ropeway and descend mountain.

(Course time: ca. 6-7hrs)

Details

More info

You'll have to add your expenses to the price: JPY 30,000

2 nights mountain hut stay (half board)
lunch boxes
transport taxi from tail end to beginning

This expenses need to be paid on the spot.

About the guide

Chikako

5.0

(77)

Mountain Guide

I am a Mt Fuji guide and a backcountry ski guide, certified by the JMGA. I was born in Tokyo but currently live in Fuji-Yoshida city, located at the foot of Mt Fuji. Teaching was something that interested me since my school years, and thus chose to join a specialized college for coaching, instructorship, and sports biology, where I also started climbing and skiing in the mountains. After my graduation, I worked as a ski patrol for 10 years, 5 of which I worked through the year - Hakuba in the winter (of northern hemisphere) and in Methven, New Zealand in the summer (of northern hemisphere), and a backcountry ski guide for 10 years.

My main and favourite field of guiding is on and around Mt Fuji, but backcountry skiing is my favourite mountain sports! I guide backcountry skiing mainly around Hakuba areas but also have been a guide in Hokkaido for 2 years, and know Furano and Niseko areas very well. I also currently teach Japan Avalanche Network level 1 courses on avalanche risks and safety. I also enjoy rock climbing in my free time and love to share with you the beauty of the Japanese mountains through my favourite guiding routes, let it to be in trekking the mountains, snowshoeing with an onsen stay or backcountry skiing in Hakuba areas!

For me, mountains are a part of my life. It teaches me upsides and downsides of life, and I want guests to join me in this environment to realize the conveniences that surround us in our ordinary life and to be grateful of everything that lets us live.

I guide visitors from abroad quite frequently. Contact me if you’re also up for fun mountain adventures!!

Languages

Japanese | English

Certificates

JMGA

What people are saying about Chikako

Gerard

The trip was extremely well organised. Chika contacted us with advice on what we would be doing and what clothing and equipment we would need. She emailed us regularly until the night before our climb. When Chika collected us she was so professional and friendly. We immediately felt that we were in good hands and that we had gained a friend as well as a guide. She guided us to the summit of Mt Fuji which was challenging but she encouraged us and kept us going at a safe pace supplying advice, information and treats along the way. When we reached the summit she even made us a welcome hot drink. After guiding us safely down the mountain and taking us back to the hotel we were sad to say goodbye.

Frank

We were a group of five who had the pleasure of having Chika as our guide for an off season day tour. Chika was extremely knowledgeable of Mt Fuji and spoke very good English. She set the climbing pace for the group to reduce energy expenditure and to acclimate to the altitude. She also provided emotional and mental support to a member of our group which gave her the push to reach the summit. Overall, we would recommend Chika to anyone willing to climb Mt Fuji and hope to have her as a guide again for future Japan hikes. Arigato gozaimashita!

Eric

Max

Guy

Chika was an excellent guide and I can't recommend her enough. The hike was fantastic, and Chika was so knowledgeable, attentive and, importantly, was very enjoyable to spend the day with. She set a great pace from the start and shared lots of cultural and historical information about Fuji and Japan in general. The day was the highlight of my trip.