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Southern Alps Self Guided Hiking
Japan 6 days ex Tokyo
Only in Japan can you start your day in the world's largest metropolis and end it in a mountain hut with nothing around you but fresh alpine
air. While Japan's urban attractions are endless, the fact that so much of the population live in its mega cities means this mountainous
country is also a paradise for outdoor adventurers.
This six day trip takes you right from the centre of Tokyo to a part of Japan that few people, locals or tourists, are lucky enough to visit. The
hiking route takes you hight into the Southern Alps mountain range and follows a seldom-travelled ridge that runs from Mt. Kita, Japan's
second-highest mountain, to Mt. Kai-Komaga, an ancient pilgrimage destination. Along the way you'll trek through fields of alpine
wildflowers, pay your respects to Shinto mountain gods at trailside shrines, and, weather permitting, catch stunning views of iconic Mt. Fuji.
You'll tread lightly on the earth on this expedition, traveling by fuel-efficient trains and staying in traditional inns and simple mountain huts,
and enjoying ample opportunities to meet local outdoor adventurers. Alpine Japan is like nowhere else - let yourself see this amazing
country from above the clouds.
Accommodation, breakfasts and dinners are all organised for you at rustic mountain huts along the way so there is no need to carry a tent or
food (apart from lunches and snacks for during the day. We provide detailed hiking maps, trail information as well as facts about the things
you will see en route. In Tokyo we can also organize fully guided tours of the area or help you do some of the great activities on offer –
cooking schools, tea ceremony, calligraphy lessons, sumo stable visits and much more – you just tell us what you would like to do!
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Itinerary
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Trip Details
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Day 1 Arrive Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo and transfer by train to your hotel. The day is yours to explore this amazing metropolis and your
local guide will meet you in the evening to go over trip notes, give you a basic language lesson and suggest
some great places for dinner tonight. Armed with your new language skills, you're free to head out for a night
under the bright lights of Tokyo - the last you'll see of civilization for the next four days!
Day 2 Southern Alps hike
You make an early start this morning to head to Yamanashi Prefecture, home of Mt Fuji and the spectacular
Southern Alps mountain range, travelling on Japan's world renowned rail system. From Kofu city you transfer
by bus to the village of Hirogawara where the trek begins. Shoulder your packs at the trailhead and climb up
(and up and up) for about seven hours to reach the simple mountain hut just below the summit of Japan's
second-highest mountain, Mt Kita where you will spend the night.
Day 3 Southern Alps hike
The day begins before sunrise today, as you climb the final steps from the hut to the summit of Mt. Kita. At
3,192m, Mt. Kita is just 582m lower than Mt. Fuji, so if the weather cooperates (fingers crossed!) you'll enjoy
some unbeatable eye-level views of the iconic mountain from the summit. Continue hiking for about six hours
along an alpine ridge trail to the mountain hut on Mt. Senjo where you spend the night tonight. Mountain huts in
Japan are famously social places - bring some snacks and a phrasebook and expect to meet a hut full of
like-minded adventurers.
Day 4 Southern Alps hike
It's an early start again today, as you continue along a stunning ridge trail from Mt. Senjo over to Mt.
Kai-Komaga (ten hours). With Mt Fuji and Mt Kita behind us and the gorgeous Northern Alps to look at as we
trek, you'll want to keep those cameras out. You'll reach the summit of Mt. Kai-Komaga in the late afternoon
today, and spend the night at a hut another two hours down the trail.
Day 5 Return to Tokyo
You descend from the mountains today, but you're not going down easy! The route down from Mt. Kai-Komaga
takes in a challenging mixture of knife-edged ridges, chains, and a vertical ladder down a sheer cliff-face.
Keep a few one yen coins handy to donate to the mountain deities' shrines you'll encounter along the trail.
You'll reach the trailhead in the early afternoon today, after seven hours of hiking. Set your packs down here
and grab a beer (or three) from the well-placed vending machine before heading to the local public baths to
enjoy a well-earned soak. You'll transfer by taxi back to the train station, and then by local and express train
back to Tokyo.
Day 6 Depart Tokyo
Enjoy a well earned sleep-in this morning before heading out to explore Tokyo at your own pace. If you're
interested, why not try a cycling tour of some off-the-beaten-track sights in the city? Of course, if your legs are
more interested in a shiatsu massage, we can arrange that too. You can depart anytime today.
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Highlights
Tokyo's neon, Summit
Japan's 2nd highest
mountain, Eye level views
of Fuji, Rustic Huts,
Stunning alpine scenery,
Mountain shrines.
Trip code
SGSA
Group size
min 1 (private tour)
Inclusions
All accommodation
Maps
Detailed route directions
Meal and sightseeing
suggestions
Detailed history of areas
Accommodation
Traditional inns (2 nts),
mountain huts (3 nts).
Meals
5 breakfasts, 5 dinners.
Important notes
Some accommodation on
this trip has shared
bathroom facilities.
booking enquiry
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