Hiking in Japan

For up-to-date information about all of these hikes (including photos and maps), please consider purchasing my guidebook to the Japan Alps. 

The Chuo Alps usually take second stage to the more celebrated peaks of the Kita and Minami Alps, but that doesn’t mean a trip can’t be rewarding. The trick is the timing, as the weather in this area is some of the worst in Nagano. The mountain range is a magnet for cloud cover throughout the year due to the deep valleys on both sides of the peaks. Although there are only 2 hikes described in this section, a long traverse over the entire alpine chain is possible, taking in 5 peaks over 2800m and covering roughly 50km. One of these days I’ll get around to doing it and I’ll post a full description of the hike. In the meantime, enjoy these peaks and the ridge line between the two:

Kiso-koma

Mt. Utsugi