THE SOUTHERN REGION OF
CHUBUSANGAKU NATIONAL PARK
Birthplace of the Japanese Alps
THE JAPANESE ALPS
LATEST INFO
NATIONAL PARK BLOG
- Mar 24, 2022
Images of crowded trains and bustling cities may come to mind when …
- Mar 18, 2022
This area is home to the Hotaka Mountain Range which includes Japan’s …
- Mar 10, 2022
In the spring of 2021, Norikura Kogen, the small alpine community at …
- Mar 5, 2022
Today, we’d like to introduce some of the measure being taken by …
NEWS FROM DESTINATIONS
- Nov 5, 2024Okuhida
- Nov 5, 2024Kamikochi
- Nov 1, 2024Wide/Access
- Oct 16, 2024Okuhida
- May 19, 2024Sawando
- Mar 22, 2022Norikura
- Feb 21, 2022Wide/Access
- Jan 21, 2022Mt. Norikura
- Nov 16, 2021Kamikochi
- Apr 19, 2021Shirahone
- Nov 7, 2024Wide/Access
DESTINATIONS
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KAMIKOCHI
Kamikochi is the park’s most famous scenic spot. Its beginner-friendly trails take visitors through lush forests, with views of the magnificent peaks of the Hotaka range reflected in Taisho Pond. Kamikochi is also the gateway to many of the park’s 3,000-meter-high summits, and hikers and mountaineers flock here to begin their climbs into the clouds.
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THE HOTAKA MOUNTAIN RANGE
The Hotaka Range includes half of Japan’s peaks over 3,000 meters. The most symbolic is Mt. Yarigatake, often called the Matterhorn of Japan for its sharply tapered peak. Climbing in the Japanese Alps began here with ascetic monks who believed in the divinity of mountains, was popularized after climbs by nineteenth-century European mountaineers, and continues to flourish with today’s legions of modern alpinists.
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NORIKURA KOGEN
Norikura Kogen is an expansive plateau at the foot of Mt. Norikura. It is known for its easy access, natural beauty, wide variety of year-round outdoor activities, and numerous onsen hot springs. With altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 meters, the area plays host to visitors looking to enjoy hiking, camping, cycling, fishing, snow sports, and water sports.
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MT. NORIKURA
Mt. Norikura is a massive volcanic mountain that, despite its 3,026-meter height, is known as a relatively easy climb. Buses and taxis also ascend the mountain, rising through birch forest via Japan’s highest road to its highest bus stop, beyond the tree line. Lucky visitors might catch a glimpse of Japanese rock ptarmigans, alpine birds that have become beloved mountain mascots.
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SHIRAHONE ONSEN
Shirahone Onsen is an onsen hot-spring village tucked deep inside the steep, forested valleys of Chubusangaku National Park. It is a perfect spot for people who appreciate a peaceful, remote location and are looking to experience the unique culture and customs of a hot-spring resort where everything revolves around relaxation.
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OKUHIDA ONSENGO HOT SPRINGS
A great base from which to explore the national park is Okuhida Onsengo Hot Springs, five cozy communities offering a wide array of hot-spring baths. Nearby, the Shinhotaka ropeway ascends steeply to an observation deck at an elevation of over 2,000 meters, where visitors enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the park’s highest peaks.
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SAWANDO ONSEN
Sawando is nestled at the footsteps of Kamikochi, in the Northern Japanese Alps, and the Hotaka Mountain Range which is part of the Chubusangaku National Park. Access to Kamikochi is limited to busses and taxis only, but Sawando Onsen has a large bus terminal where these transportation types are available. Sawndo Onsen also has many therapeutic properties, especially for mountain hikers which help one relax after trekking in the wilderness.
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THINGS TO SEE & DO
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