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A 4 day weekend is rare in the summer time, so we are taking advantage with an awesome trek to a very difficult to access area of the Southern Alps. Due to Covid19 all huts will be shut down as well as all bus services running in the area meaning in comparison to the North Alps where things will be operating, it should be extremely quiet. This also means there will be no support available, and this will be a true wilderness experience.
This hike covers 3 of the 100 famous mountains, 4 other named peaks for a total of at least 7 peaks on this trek!
Wednesday Night:
The drive to the trail-head is a bit far, so we will be meeting up at 7:30 p.m. the night before the trek in Fuchu, and then make the drive out. You should have all your lunch and snacks prepared in advance as there are no shops in the area near the trailhead. We will camp out in a large grassy parking lot at the trail-head. If weather is questionable we will stay under a roof at train station 45 minutes from the trailhead.
This hike covers 3 of the 100 famous mountains, 4 other named peaks for a total of at least 7 peaks on this trek!
Wednesday Night:
The drive to the trail-head is a bit far, so we will be meeting up at 7:30 p.m. the night before the trek in Fuchu, and then make the drive out. You should have all your lunch and snacks prepared in advance as there are no shops in the area near the trailhead. We will camp out in a large grassy parking lot at the trail-head. If weather is questionable we will stay under a roof at train station 45 minutes from the trailhead.
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Thursday:
This is a big day and we will need to get an early start. We will need to walk along a lake for 2 and half hours before the climbing begins. Our goal is to get up to Hijiri-daira(聖平) where we will set up our first camp of the night and puts us just at tree line at the start of the Alpine area. The climb up starts on a forested ridge that is not too steep, but is a constant challenge as we gain altitude quickly. It eventually opens up into a river valley with some waterfalls that should be roaring in early summer. The final hour is quite gentle with great views. |
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Friday:
We set off early climbing to the summit of Hijiridake (聖岳) which takes roughly 2 hours, but nothing technical, and there are some great views along this climb. From the summit we traverse along a rocky ridge over to Usagi-dake(兎岳) and continue with some up to campsite Hyakkenboro (百間洞山) where we will have our last chance to get water for the day. From there we climb up to the summit of Akaishi-dake and spend the night camping next to the emergency hut just below the summit over 3,000 meters. If the weather is bad we will need to continue an additional 2 hours of easy walking to a more sheltered campsite at the Arakawa Hut. (荒川小屋) The scenery this day is absolutely amazing! |
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Saturday:
This is the day with the most spectacular scenery of the trip. We start from Akaishi-dake (赤石岳) which includes an amazing rocky ridge below the summit. The summit is a wide rocky landscape with amazing 360 degree views. From there we continue north walking in some of the most open and remote alpine scenery in the Japanese Alps with the sharp peak of Akaishi behind us and the rolling multiple peaks of of the Arakawa cirque and to the summit of Warusawa-dake(悪沢岳) our 3rd famous mountain of the trip. We will be camping out at the hut on the east side of the mountain at Senmai hut (千枚小屋) This is our shortest day but with the most amazing alpine scenery so we will be taking our time to truly enjoy the scenery as we walk along. |
Sunday:
We will start quite early this day with breakfast and then begin our descent down to the the main access road for the mountains. It will take about 3 hours to descend to the trailhead, and then another 4 hours or so of walking on the road to get back to the vehicle. This day is all downhill with nothing steep, but we will be putting in a lot of kilometers.
As there is likely to be major traffic issues, we are planning to drop everyone off at Ebina station so everyone can get home at a decent time with direct express and limited express trains to Shinjuku and also direct express trains to Yokohama for those living in Kanagawa prefecture.
Notes
There will be no serviced huts available during this trip. There will be no opportunities to buy any supplies on the trail. If the weather is bad at times, most of the camp sites we are staying at also have large clean emergency huts available. Water sources are available every day, so generally there will be no need to carry more than 2 liters of water at a time except for day 2 we need to have about 3.5 to 4L to spend the night on top of Akaishi which has no water source. Off season toilets are available at all of the campsites, though facilities are very basic.
Route and map times can be viewed on this link.
We will start quite early this day with breakfast and then begin our descent down to the the main access road for the mountains. It will take about 3 hours to descend to the trailhead, and then another 4 hours or so of walking on the road to get back to the vehicle. This day is all downhill with nothing steep, but we will be putting in a lot of kilometers.
As there is likely to be major traffic issues, we are planning to drop everyone off at Ebina station so everyone can get home at a decent time with direct express and limited express trains to Shinjuku and also direct express trains to Yokohama for those living in Kanagawa prefecture.
Notes
There will be no serviced huts available during this trip. There will be no opportunities to buy any supplies on the trail. If the weather is bad at times, most of the camp sites we are staying at also have large clean emergency huts available. Water sources are available every day, so generally there will be no need to carry more than 2 liters of water at a time except for day 2 we need to have about 3.5 to 4L to spend the night on top of Akaishi which has no water source. Off season toilets are available at all of the campsites, though facilities are very basic.
Route and map times can be viewed on this link.
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This trip includes
-Round trip transportation from Tokyo -An experienced and certified guide -Tents and camping fees -Dinner and breakfast x 3 while trekking Hiking Level: 2C Participation Fee: 35,500 yen +tax -Own meals - 3,000 yen discount |
・Pick up Locations: <Wednesday Night Departure>
Fuchu Station -7:30 p.m. Fuchu-Honmachi Station - 7:35 p.m. ・Required Equipment: Trekking Boots, water, lunch, sunscreen, warm clothing layers, rain wear, sleeping bag and mat, a 45L+ backpack, cup bowl and spoon
・Some tents are available for 3 person groups, otherwise you will need to provide your own backpacking tent. ・Maximum Participants: 9
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