Explore-Share logo and link to home

North Japan Alps panoramic hiking route

North Japan Alps
North Japan Alps
North Japan Alps
North Japan Alps

Kayo, a JMGA mountain guide, takes you on a 3-day itinerary traversing 'Omote Ginza', a popular hiking trail in the North Japan Alps.

Private

Japan Alps

3 Days

Sep

Occasional

Beginner


Highlights

  • Contemplate the fantastic views in the North Japan Alps.
  • Walk surrounded by the colorful autumn leaves of Japanese trees.
  • Enjoy hiking in one of the most scenic Japanese mountain trails.

Description

'Omote Ginza' is a popular hiking trail in the North Japan Alps. Join me on this great 3-day private hiking traverse!

This is a very scenic hiking route in Nagano Prefecture, that follows a ridge line from Mount Tsubakuro (2763 m) to Mount Yari (3180 m).

We'll meet early in the morning either at Hotaka or Hakuba station. After 5 hours of hiking, we'll arrive to Enzansō hut, where we'll spend the night. This mountain hut is one of the oldest in Japan. The following night we'll stay at another historic mountain hut: Jonen Hut.

One of the highlights of this trip are the stunning views of the peaks of the North Japan Alps. Throughout the route, you'll enjoy beautiful sights of Mt Yari (known as Japan's Matterhorn) and Hodaka mountain range. 

Furthermore, as we'll travel during September, you'll get to see the amazing autumn foliage! The colorful autumn leaves in Japanese trees (known as 'koyo') lure local and foreigner travelers. Autumn leaf viewing can be specially enjoyed in mountain regions, as they love high altitude and cold temperatures.

This is a high mountain hike. You should be in good physical conditions, as we'll be hiking between 5-7 hours per day. It's also good to have some previous experience. If you are a group of 5 or more people, contact me and we will plan a tour for your group.

Are you ready for a 3-day adventure in one of the most scenic Japanese mountain trails? Check our next departure date and send a request to join the group!

In case you are interested in other trips in this area, you can also consider this 3-day hiking trip in Hakuba Three Mountains.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Mountain guide expenses

Price details

You need to pay for your own accommodation.

Accommodation: huts are around JPY 10000 per night.


Itinerary

Day 1: 5hr 10min hiking, Tsubakuro hut stay.

Day 2: 6hrs 40min hiking, Jonen hut stay.

Day 3: 5.5hr hiking.

End point: 1pm Hotaka station or 2:30pm Hakuba station.

 

Details

Accommodation

Tsubakuro hut. Jonen hut.

More info

-Hiking gears (boots, appropriate clothing, rain jacket, insulating layers etc.). --All non-Japan residents participating in this tour need to be covered by an appropriate mountain rescue insurance (including heli-skiing, etc.)

Meeting point

7:30am Hotaka station or 6am Hakuba station.

About the guide

I'm a JMGA certified hiking and ski guide, as well as a telemark ski instructor. I also hold the Nagano Prefecture's Official Mountain Guide license, meaning that I'm particularly proficient with the mountains in Nagano i.e. most of the Japan Alps. I've also competed at World Cup for telemark skiing during 2002-2009 years.

I have been living in the village of Hakuba, in Nagano, right at the base of mountains in the North Japan Alps since 2012. However, I am originally from the island of Shikoku towards the south of Japan, so I used to love the sea more than mountains and used to enjoy scuba diving, surfing, and kayaking. But from the moment I met telemark skiing, I've been enchanted by the mountains. It was fun to hike up whether it be on foot or on telemark skis, and to discover the mountains this way, and eventually I chose to pursue the ambition of becoming a hiking guide. My motto is for my clients to enjoy mountains safely.

My favourite guiding field is the North Japan Alps. The infrastructure here, including the gondola and buses, make the mountain ridge lines so accessible!!

I prefer hiking long trails than peak hunting. I usually save one month every year for trekking for myself and mainly choose to trek abroad. I particularly love trekking in Europe!

The distinct four seasons in Japan is very unique, and you can enjoy the mountains in different ways during different seasons. I would like to show you the best way to enjoy Japanese mountains that suits the season, so please join me on the discovery trip!

Languages

Japanese | English

Certificates

JMGA


What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari Selvakumar

5.00

Sept 14, 2022

I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

Niklas Warren

5.00

Sept 6, 2022

I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

Greg

5.00

Aug 23, 2022

I was looking for a local guide for a hike I was planning and came across Explore-Share. They seemed to have good reviews and so decided to give them a try. The experience was very positive and completely happy with their service. I will be using them again for next trip.

Colin Finnegan

5.00

Aug 17, 2022

Easy to set up and find the perfect trip. Informative site that is easy to use. Guides are all great to work with and communicate all arrangements needed. As simple as can be!

Lesley Weber

4.00

July 16th, 2022

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

Richard Scrivener

5.00

July 20, 2022

Hello! I have been thoroughly impressed by the service and assistance that explore-share have provided the past couple years in helping to plan my trip to the High Tatras in Poland. I really appreciated the flexibility that they provided in allowing me to rearrange my trip twice owing to covid. They were responsive and communicative throughout. This trip was part of my Stag weekend celebrations and explore-share connected me with an outstanding guide in the form of Marcel - he was an excellent recommendation and we really enjoyed our guided hike in the High Tatras with him. Marcel was an outstanding professional, placed a high focus on preparing well and staying safe, and was also a great guy! Highly recommend. Many thanks and best wishes - Richard

Yvonne Morrison

4.00

May 8, 2022

Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!

Mark Stone

5.00

April 14, 2022

Great service by explore share. Our guide, Fred, gave us a fantastic day. Totally wild adventure that would be impossible on our own. I’m really impressed. Thank you very much.

James Dempster

5.00

March 9, 2022

I can’t recommend this enough. Great service, great price and the on the ground team was top notch. Top marks all round.

Leonardo Rodriguez

5.00

March 4, 2022

Everything went very well! Above our expectations! Thanks Explore-Share and Thanks Kiliholidays! Great support from all you! Thanks for the hard work and excellent level of commitment.

Daniel Martinez

5.00

Feb 2, 2022

Excellent job making your platform available to all mountain lovers. Our guide Gabrielle was an excellent companion

 

 

You may also like

 

Find more hiking trips in Japan

 

Join our newsletter!

Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.