Winter Mountaineering Course with Nishihodaka Climb

Learn winter mountaineering skills and enjoy the beautiful climb and scenery of North Japan Alps from the summit of Mt Nishihodaka

Let’s enjoy winter climbing of Nishihodaka!
If you’re interested in starting winter mountain climbs and learning some skills necessary then this programme is for you! In addition to gaining some useful winter mountaineering skills, we will also put the skills learnt into use the next day by attempting a climb of Mt Nishihodaka.

I am very experienced in teaching mountaineering skills as one of my roles include training people to become mountain guides.

The Shinhotaka ropeway takes you from elevation of 1,117m to 2,156m, which gives us an easy access to the ridge lines. I have climbed this route a lot and had a lot of great experiences, and I would love to share them with you.

Required Technical Level:
Preferred to have basic skills / experiences in mountains

Required Fitness Level:
Need to have good strength for 8 hours a day with carrying
approximately 8kg backpack

Kit List

*Please contact me if you need to rent any of these gears.

• Harness
• Helmet – must have one
• Screwgate karabiner – 3 sets
• Karabiner – 2 set keylock type or same level
• Slings – 120cm and a 60cm
• Belay Device – one which can also be used for abseiling / rappelling
• Crampons – with 10-12 teeth
• Ice axe – light and not long
• Climbing Pole – one is better
• Shell Outer – e.g. Gore-Tex
• Shell Pants – e.g. Gore-Tex
• Warm jacket / insulating layers
• Hat – protection against cold and sunlight
• Sunglasses – necessary item (goggles possible as a substitute)
• Sunscreen – necessary item
• Headlamp  – with extra battery
• Food or snack
• Drink – with thermos bottle (no Plastic bottles)
• Suitable Winter mountaineering boots
• Suitable Winter mountaineer clothes
• Suitable gloves for winter
• Backpack – 40-45L size
• Photocopy of Insurance
• Plastic bags
• Map – optional
• Camera – optional
• Cell phone – optional
• Small knife – optional
• Lighter – optional

Crampons and Ice axes can be rented at JPY 500 per item.

Helmet, harness, karabiner, slings, belay device can be rented at JPY 500 per item or JPY 2,000 for all items.

If you’d like to rent everything (crampons, ice axe, helmet, harness, karabiner, slings, belay device) then the price for all is JPY 3,000