A grand crossing of the Japanese Alps and the splendors of the two capitals
In summary
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Sports
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Duration13 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationAsia / Japan
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AgeFrom 16 - 80 years
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CO₂-Emissions137.05 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
Japanese
In a few words
Your adventure begins in the heart of bustling Tokyo , a megalopolis of striking contrasts. You then travel to Toyama , a true gateway to an extraordinary journey through the Japanese Alps .
For eight days, you'll hike in total immersion in Chubusangaku National Park , a pristine high-altitude sanctuary. This high-altitude trek takes you to over 3,000 meters and offers unforgettable moments, from challenging climbs and natural hot springs ( onsen ) to memorable nights in mountain huts . It's a unique and immersive experience , punctuated by encounters with local communities.
The next leg of your journey takes you to Matsumoto to admire its perfectly preserved medieval castle . On the local side, you'll discover the secrets of a traditional sake brewery in the Nagano region and taste the unique flavors of the country's largest wasabi farm .
This exceptional journey ends in style in Kyoto . The former imperial capital opens the doors to its ancient temples and refined cuisine , concluding an unforgettable cultural and mountain trip.
The highlights
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An 8-day trek in the Japanese Alps with nights spent in mountain huts
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The must-sees of the cities of Tokyo, Toyama, Matsumoto and Kyoto
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Japanese cuisine
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
This trek is physically demanding and requires prior training. Good agility is also necessary to navigate the technical terrain (ladders, handrails, steep drops). Stages can involve up to 1000 meters of elevation gain and last up to 7 hours.
Warning : in addition to the elevation changes mentioned, there is the difficulty of the steep terrain of the route (dense vegetation, rocks, steep slopes, etc.), with sometimes difficult weather conditions (rain, wind, typhoon).
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average distance/day: 8 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 497 m
- Average daily descent: 497 m
- Exposed Passages: Yes
Management
French
English
Japanese
Samuel, a mountain guide, has been traversing the paths of Japan since 2010. He will be your guide on the Great Crossing of the Japanese Alps and will find the best deals for you in Tokyo, Matsumoto, and Kyoto and throughout the entire journey.
Your guide will welcome you in Tokyo, the starting point of the trip, and will accompany you to Kyoto, the ending point of the trip.
In Tokyo, Sébastien, who has lived in the city for 10 years, will guide you through his secret Tokyo.
Program
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First steps in Tokyo
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
You spend the evening with your guide in a typical izakaya in the Ameyoko district and taste the traditional specialties offered by the establishment in a guaranteed first change of scenery !
Day 1 -
Unusual Tokyo and transfer to Toyama
- Transportation TGV - 02h - 350km
- Activity Autre
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
You'll meet Sébastien, your Tokyo guide, who will spend the morning with you and introduce you to the heart of the capital . Your luggage will be transferred to your Kyoto hotel, and you'll only need to carry your trekking gear for the duration of your tour in the Japanese Alps. Your hiking guide, Samuel, will accompany you on the famous Shinkansen bullet train to Toyama .
Day 2 -
Trek, stage 1: Oritate to Yakushizawa
- Transportation Minibus - 01h30 - 49km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 11 km
- Positive elevation gain 990 m
- Negative elevation 430 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
At the start of the day, we arrive in Oritate , the starting point of the trek.
The first stage begins with a climb through dense forest. We also pass through stands of sasa bamboo and reach the Tarodaira refuge located on the plateau. We observe the surrounding peaks (Yakushidake, Kurobegorodake) and continue on to the Yakushizawa refuge nestled on the riverbank.
Day 3 -
Trek, stage 2: Yakushizawa to Takamagahara
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our trek through the valley, following the river with sections through the undergrowth and among the rocks along the riverbank. Leaving the stream at the bottom of the valley, we begin the ascent through increasingly lush vegetation, a veritable rainforest with steep slopes. In the early afternoon, we reach the plateau where the Takamagahara refuge is located. We then take advantage of the natural hot spring to refresh ourselves before sharing a traditional meal at the refuge.
Day 4 -
Trek, stage 3: Takamagahara to Mitsumata
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 7 km
- Positive elevation gain 820 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
At the start of the stage, we encounter the dense vegetation of the rainforest before climbing to the Warimo Pass at 2800 meters . We continue our ascent along the ridges to the volcanic summit of Washiba, perched at 2925 meters and offering a splendid 360° view. After our picnic lunch, we begin the descent to the Mitsumata refuge , famous throughout the Alps for its delicious coffee!
Day 5 -
Trek, stage 4: Mitsumata to Sugoroku
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h30
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 350 m
- Negative elevation 350 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This fourth stage is a transition day . It first takes us to the peaks of Mitsumata and then Sugoroku, perched at 2860 meters , before reaching the refuge of the same name.
Day 6 -
Trek, stage 5: Sugoroku to Yarigatake
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 7 km
- Positive elevation gain 700 m
- Negative elevation 230 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A magnificent stage along the ridges leads to the Yarigatake refuge, offering breathtaking scenery and challenging sections requiring careful attention. If conditions permit upon arrival, we will climb Mount Yarigatake at 3180m altitude , the fifth highest peak in the archipelago.
Day 7 -
Trek, stage 6: Yarigatake to Otensho
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 390 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The beginning of the stage requires our full attention with some technical sections , demanding the use of hands and nimble feet. After a break at the Nishidake Hut , we continue under the forest canopy to the Otensho Hut , where we spend the night.
Day 8 -
Trek, stage 7: Otensho to Enzanso
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h30
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 320 m
- Negative elevation 260 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We first hike up to the Daitenso mountain hut to admire the view of the Jonendake range towards the Kamikochi Valley . This stage offers more magnificent ridge scenery as we continue to the Enzanso mountain hut , where we have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to the summit of Tsubakurodake with its striking granite formations.
Day 9 -
Trek, stage 8: Enzanso to Nakabusa onsen (end of trek)
- Transportation Minibus - 01h - 30km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 6 km
- Negative elevation 1300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We begin our descent to Nakabusa onsen , the end of our trek, and enjoy a well-deserved onsen upon arrival! We then head to Matsumoto to explore the city before a celebratory dinner.
Day 10 -
The secrets of Matsumoto
- Transportation TGV - 03h - 299km
- Activity Autre
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
At the start of the day, we visit the magnificent Matsumoto Castle , a relic of the feudal era. We then explore the largest wasabi farm in the country, before discovering a traditional sake brewery . In the afternoon, we travel to Kyoto .
Day 11 -
Kyoto
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
You enjoy this free day to discover the historic capital and make lots of memories.
Day 12 -
Final steps in Kyoto
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Depending on their flight schedule, everyone can enjoy this last day of freedom.
Day 13
Note
The hikes included in the tour may be adapted depending on weather conditions or the needs of the trails and participants. Ultimately, your mountain guide has sole discretion over the program and may modify it for safety reasons.
Note: In the event of a change to the itinerary, additional accommodation and transport costs will remain the responsibility of the participant.
Accommodation
Access
Your guide will assist you in reaching your departure airport.
Go to the starting point
Your guide will provide you with all the necessary information to reach the meeting point according to your arrival time in Tokyo.
Price details
The price includes
- supervision by a qualified mountain guide (DE-alpinisme AMM)
- administrative formalities with local authorities (national park)
- a tour of Tokyo with a French-speaking guide residing locally
- the transfer of luggage between the hotel in Tokyo and the hotel in Kyoto
- The accommodations mentioned in the program: 5 nights in a hotel and 7 nights in a mountain refuge
- The meals mentioned in the program: 12 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners
- the transfers mentioned in the program
The price does not include
- the round-trip flights
- airport transfer on the first day
- the single room supplement in hotels
- lunches not mentioned in the program (days 1, 2, 12 and 13)
- dinners not mentioned in the program (days 11, 12 and 13)
- transportation in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto
- airport transfer on the last day
- personal expenses
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Police : You must have a passport valid until your return date. Upon arrival, Japanese immigration officials will take your biometric data (fingerprints) followed by a photograph (front view).
Insurance : You must have repatriation insurance, including search and rescue costs for a minimum of 7500 euros.
Vaccination : not mandatory
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Mountaineering helmet for the optional ascent of Mount Yarigatake (3180 m)
Equipment to bring
For your trek:
Equipment list
- 1 t-shirt (long sleeves recommended) in breathable material + 1 change of clothes
- 1 fleece jacket or a down jacket
- 1 windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket
- 1 pair of hiking trousers (with a change of clothes for the refuge if needed)
- 1 pair of waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type overtrousers
- pairs of walking socks (preferably wool or special hiking socks)
- 1 head covering (hat, bucket hat, cap)
- 1 neck warmer or scarf
- 1 beanie
- 1 pair of gloves
- 1 swimsuit for the day with hot water source + towel
- 1 sleeping bag liner (futon and pillow provided in the refuge)
- 1 outfit for the night
- Optional: 1 pair of gaiters
Equipment
- 1 backpack with a capacity of approximately 30 liters, including its protective rain cover
- 1 pair of waterproof hiking boots with Vibram-type soles
- 1 pair of telescopic poles with protective end caps
- 1 waterproof pouch to store your money, ID and assistance contract with the 24/7 assistance number
- 1 water bottle or hydration pack with a minimum capacity of 1.5 liters
- 1 pair of sunglasses (category 3 recommended)
- Sunscreen (SPF 50) and lip balm
- Toiletries including: light towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste (no showers in the refuges) - consider bringing sanitary wipes if needed
- earplugs
- 1 headlamp with battery or charged batteries
- optional:
- 1 individual sleeping mat, if you are concerned about the firmness of the woven straw floors in the shelters
- 1 personal inflatable pillow for your comfort (very firm pillows provided)
- 1 insulated water bottle (hot water is available in the mountain huts)
- your own cutlery if you do not use chopsticks for food
- Warning : the law prohibits carrying a knife with a blade longer than 7 cm
- Photographic equipment with rechargeable batteries and a waterproof bag are recommended.
- Note: Remember to bring some 100 yen coins to use the toilets when passing through the mountain huts during the trek (200 or 300 yen depending on the hut).
- Note: Slippers are provided in the mountain huts.
Personal pharmacy
- your usual medications (prescription required if currently undergoing medical treatment)
- elastic adhesive tape, type “Elastopaste” (width 8 cm)
- adhesive bandages + disinfectant compresses
- double-skinned, like Compeed or SOS blisters
- If needed: analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anti-diarrheals, disinfectants, broad-spectrum antibiotics, eye drops
Food
- Snacks such as cereal bars or dried fruit (available for purchase locally) for the duration of the trek
Clothing to bring
For the upper body, the 3-layer principle allows you to manage almost all situations:
- a t-shirt made of breathable material (hollow fiber)
- a warm fleece jacket or a lightweight down jacket
- a windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket (Gore-Tex type)
When hiking in good weather, a t-shirt is usually sufficient. In rainy or windy conditions, a waterproof jacket is appropriate. During breaks or in cold weather, a fleece jacket or down jacket can be useful.
Pack quick-drying clothes (avoid cotton). Opt for wool, silk, and synthetic fibers that will keep you dry and warm for as long as possible.
The Samuel team
A pioneer of trekking in Japan, our local expert runs a small, personalized organization that designs innovative trips. They offer unique multi-day hikes in the Japanese Alps or on the unspoiled island of Hokkaido. Each trek is led by a certified French guide fluent in Japanese. Thanks to their in-depth knowledge of the terrain and its ecosystem, these mountain guides lead travelers off the beaten path, into the heart of hidden and enchanting places.
