Hiking Japan Alps

Day 1: Sunday, 3/24 – A day of Adventur

Sachi and I set off at 5:30 am, driving to the Shinhotaka Ropeway in Takayama, Gifu. After taking two ropeways, we reached the upper station at around 9:30 am. From there, a trailhead led us to the Nishiho Mountain Hut and Mount Nishihotaka-dake in the Northern Alps.

At 10 am, we were geared up with crampons and ready to make our way to the Nishiho Mountain Hut. The upper station, sitting at an altitude of 2000 meters, offered mild weather conditions that day. The snow-covered trails, well-trodden by many hikers, made the ascent quite manageable. It took us about an hour to reach the Hut at 2385 meters.

After a brief break, around 11:30 am, we left a backpack at the Hut and continued our adventure towards our mission for the day, Nishiho Maruyama. Ascending the steeper, well-trodden snowy trail for about 10 to 15 minutes, we then followed along a moderate ridgeline for another 15 minutes to reach our destination, all the while being captivated by the stunning scenery surrounding us. We got back to the Hut and enjoyed lunch and dinner that day.

Day 2:Monday, 3/25 – 2nd day of Aventure

At 6:00 am, it was a slightly rainy morning as we departed from the Hut to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihotaka, which stands at 2909 meters. We reached Hodaka Maruyama in about 30 minutes, encountering only a few gusts of wind along the mountain ridgeline. From there, our plan was to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihodaka via Doppyo.

We spent the next hour climbing a steep, snowy, and rugged ridgeline, eventually arriving at Doppyo. Doppyo is a rock wall covered with snow and ice, presenting the most hazardous, tricky section of the route. We barely made it to the top of Doppyo, facing obstacles such as rock, ice, and snow walls. We carefully navigated this treacherous terrain, using crampons and ice axes to find secure footholds and progress step by step.

Upon reaching Doppyo, we deliberated whether to continue our mountaineering expedition. The challenge tested both our physical and mental endurance, as well as our technical skills, especially considering the worsening weather conditions.

Ultimately, I made the decision to descend.

Heals with Onsen Spa

Another pleasure of mountaineering is indulging in onsen spas and enjoying delicious local dishes. In the Northern Alps area of Chubu Sangaku National Park, Japan, there are numerous onsen spas to choose from.

The best photo of the days from the Hut

Sunday, 17th, March

The second time, Sachi, my meetup co-organizer and I attempted to hike for Mount Karamats-dake on the day, but the weather had not permitted us, and we were hampered by the strong winds again.

7:30 am ticket Call was open at the Happo Gondola Station but there was an announcement for hikers, “It is hesitant about servicing the two lifts uphill of Happo- Ike due to strong winds.”

Given the weather forecast for the day, we couldn’t hope for the weather to recover based on the weather forecast, so we moved to plan B, which is Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort.

Karamatsu-dake is nestled on the boundary between Toyama and Nagano, Japan. Climbing along Happo Ridge to Karamatsu-dake offers stunning views of the majestic Mount Hakuba range. It’s an undeniably breathtaking landscape that draws hikers and nature enthusiasts from all over Japan.

Hakuba Village

Hakuba Village is home to the largest alpine resort area at the foot of the northern Japan Alps. It is nestled in three municipalities of Nagano Prefecture in Japan: Omachi City, Hakuba Village, and Otari Village.

Getting there

Taking the Happo Gondola ‘Adam’, along with the two lifts, Alpen Quad and Grat Quad, it’ll take you about 20 minutes to reach the trailhead of Happo One with ease. Once you hop off the second lift, you’ll spot the Happo Ike Hut right in front of you. It’s also where you can stay or register your climbing itinerary.

Climbing along Happo Ridge to Karamatsu-dake offers stunning views of the majestic Mount Hakuba range. It’s an undeniably breathtaking landscape that draws hikers and nature enthusiasts from all over Japan.

Happo O’ne Route
Happo Sation, Gondola “Adam” ➡ Alpen Quad ➡ Grat Quad ➡ Happo Ike Hut ➡ Karamats Sanso Hut ➡ Mt.Karamatsu-Dake ➡ Happo Ike Hut　➡ Happo Station （Dismissed), 6 hours.

On January 5th, 2024

On January 5th, 2024, I attempted to hike up Mt. Karamatsu-dake, but the strong gust winds threw a wrench in my plans. I really didn’t want to give up, but with the winds being so relentless, I had no choice but to call it quits. So, here I am, giving it another shot on my second attempt, on March 17th,2024. Wish me luck!

Mount Cook National Park is undeniably captivating, offering a spectacular landscape that attracts adventurers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. New Zealand was one of the countries I had always wanted to visit. Finally, my dream of visiting the park became a reality this time. So, I would like to share the highlights of my journey in Mount Cook National Park, including a memorable mountain climbing experience.

Day 1 Monday, Feb.12th, Sunny day

After renting a car at the Christchurch Airpot, I headed up to Mount Cook National Park, after driving for a good 3 hours, a turquoise-blue lake spread in front of me. It was such a beautiful color with the backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges in the park. It took about 5 hours to arrive at Mount Cook Village in the park, a base camp for mountain climbing.

Day 2: Hooker Lake, Mt.Footstool 2764 m, Stay Hooker Hut, Sunny day

Headed to Hooker Lake with Hooker Valley Track. Crossing three swingbridges, walking along with Hooker River. It took just one hour and a half to Hooker Lake, the glacier lake.

Challenging at Mt.Footstool and Staying at the hut

After resting at Hooker Lake, I headed to Hooker Hut, but I struggled to find it for quite a long time because there were no signs.

I had planned to reach Selton Biv Hut and trek up the glacier terrain in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I had to halt my journey on the way to the hut as I wasn’t feeling well.

Day 3: Stay and relax at Haka Aoraki Mt.Cook, Sunny day

Kanji KakizakiさんによるHooker Hut

Day 4: Stay at Muller Hut 1800 m, Rainy Day

Tough hike, but totally worth it. This overnight mountain climb ranks up there as one of the best I’ve ever done. It was seriously challenging, battling rain and strong winds all day with heavy packs, but I managed to push through and conquer the obstacles.

The first couple of hours were a bit tough – non-stop stairs, steep and slippery. It was even tougher than I had anticipated. Plus, with the rainy weather, there wasn’t much to see scenery along the trail. I was kind of bummed out, but also a bit concerned about the weather’s turn.

After navigating those steep stairs, I hit a fork where the left path led to a hut. The scenery shifted dramatically from green forest to rocky terrain, almost like hitting a tree line. Everywhere I looked, there were these huge jagged mountains, and the weather was only getting worse.

Rain was pelting down, and the wind was howling, turning the rocky ground into a makeshift stream. Making progress became a real challenge, especially with those fierce gusts knocking me around. At one point, I was nearly blown off my feet by a sudden gust – definitely gave me a scare!

After about five hours of tackling and struggling with the severe weather, I finally reached the top of this steep, rugged trail, and when I saw the Muller Hut in the distance, I was very happy.

Day 5: Impressive Scenery Morning

The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze swept through, turning everything into perfection. It was a challenging hike, but definitely worth it.

Day 6: Last day in Mount Cook Village

I enjoyed chatting and cooking with other guests at Haka Aoraki Youth Hostel, it was quite relaxing.

I had a meaningful experience on Day 4. Despite the challenging hike, it was entirely worth it. As they say, the greater the difficulty, the sweeter the reward. My next mountaineering challenge will be in Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Switzerland.

On January 5th, 2024, Ms. Sachi and I climbed Mount Karamatsu-dake, which stands at 2,696 meters in height.

Plan for the Trip

On Thursday, January 5th, I plan to drive to Hakuba Village in Nagano. It will take around an hour and a half from my place.

From there, I will ride the Gondola Adam, Alpen Quad, and the Great Quad to reach Happo-Ike Hut, which should take about 20 minutes.

The climb will begin with the goal of reaching the summit of Mt. Karamatsu-dake, which is 2,696 meters high. The climb is expected to take approximately 5 hours.

Climbing Route:

Happo-Ike Hut ➡ Mount Happo Cairn ➡ The 2nd Cairn ➡ Happo Cairn ➡ The 3rd Cairn ➡ Maruyama Cairn ➡ Karamatsu-Sancho Hut ➡ Mount Karamatsu-dake

What actually happened on that day:

It was a beautiful day for climbing, with a clear winter sky of deep blue – perfect conditions for ascending the mountain. I felt confident about reaching the mountain’s summit, at least until I reached Happo Ike Hut at 1,860 meters. However, as I ascended further, the wind on the upper terrain of the mountain was blowing quite hard.

As we ascended further the 2nd to 3rd cairn on the ridge of Happo, The wind with snow was blowing harder and harder. We had to stop moving upward and wait for the gust to weaken sometimes.

A stronger gust of wind swirled around Maruyama Cairn, the further upper ridge from the 3rd cairn, almost pushing us off balance. Climbing became challenging on the mountain ridge due to the powerful winds. Ultimately, I decided to descend, unfortunately, choosing to turn back at Maruyama Cairn.