Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails

Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails

Traverse Japan's Highest Mountain Range

Key features

  • Hiking
  • Mountaineering
  • Mountain trails
  • Japan Alps
  • North Alps
  • Spectacular scenery
  • Alpine views
  • Overnight hikes
  • Mountain huts
  • June to October

Trailheads (from Hotaka Station)

Nakabusa55-min drive
Ichinosawa25-min drive
Mitsumata35-min drive

Nearby Attractions (from Hotaka Station)

Matsumoto Castle30-min drive
Hakuba Village60-min drive
Kamikochi90-min drive

Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails

Traverse Japan's Highest Mountain Range

Key features

  • Hiking
  • Mountaineering
  • Mountain trails
  • Japan Alps
  • North Alps
  • Spectacular scenery
  • Alpine views
  • Overnight hikes
  • Mountain huts
  • June to October
One of three mountain ranges making-up the ‘Japanese Alps’, the ‘North Alps’ boast some of the country’s highest peaks and spectacular alpine scenery. Visitors wanting to ascend high into the mountains along hiking trails can do some from the rural enclave of Azumino. Located around 30-minutes by train from Matsumoto, Azumino has three trailheads located at Nakabusa Onsen, Ichinosawa and Mitsumata from where trails lead into the mountains. Walks range from one-day hikes to multi-day courses requiring hikers to camp or stay in mountain huts overnight. Subject to heavy snow through winter, the hiking season runs from June until October.
At its heart, Japan is a country of mountains with over seventy percent of the land mass deemed ‘mountainous’, and many peaks considered sacred. Mountain worship plays a key role in Japan’s native religion of Shintoism, imbuing even the most casual of alpine walks with significance. Long considered the realm of the gods, mountains offer and escape from the crowds and stress of the world below and a path into the heart of Japan.

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  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails
  • Hike Japan's North Alps Mountain Trails

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Hiking in the North Alps

Hiking in the North Alps

One of three mountain ranges making-up the 'Japan Alps', the 'North Alps' boast some of the country's highest peaks and best hiking.

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Highlights & Hiking Trails

Highlights & Hiking Trails

Three trailheads in Azumino act as your gateway to some of the most spectacular scenery and hikes in the North Alps.

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Mountain & Nature Worship

Mountain & Nature Worship

Japan's native religion of Shintoism has a strong association with nature worship, a belief system in which mountains play a hugely important role.

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Group Tours in the North Alps

Group Tours in the North Alps

Home to some of Japan’s most spectacular landscapes, our group tours in the North Alps cover both the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and Kamikochi.

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News / Info

How to Access the Trailheads

How to Access the Trailheads

Azumino's three trailheads - Nakabusa, Ichinosawa and Mitsumata - are all easily accessed by bus or taxi from Hotaka Station.

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When to Go & What to Take

When to Go & What to Take

To get the most out of your hiking experience, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure you know what to expect.

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Relax & Unwind in Hotaka Onsen

Relax & Unwind in Hotaka Onsen

Located within easy reach of the trailheads, Hotaka Onsen-kyo is an ideal spot to stay and unwind, before or after your hike.

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Stay & Discover Azumino

Stay & Discover Azumino

Ideally located between the North Alps, Hakuba and Matsumoto, Azumino is a tranquil rural enclave offering plenty of reasons to go slow and stay.

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Recommended Nearby Destinations

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Nagano's International Playground

Home to Nagano's most popular and international ski resorts, Hakuba Valley is also quickly establishing itself as the region's best green season sports destination.

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History, Art, Food & More!

Famous for its iconic castle, Matsumoto is a vibrant city boasting a great food and arts scene led by Matsumoto-native Kusama Yayoi.

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Walk in the Valley of the Gods

Considered the jewel of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is open to the public from April to November

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Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

Experience the Iconic Snow Walls

Inaccesslbe through winter, the Alpine Route is open to the public from April to November and boasts one of Japan's most remarkable landscapes.

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Daio Wasabi Farm

Daio Wasabi Farm

Wander One of Azumino's Most Scenic Farms

Fed by the pristine waters of the North Alps, Daio Wasabi Farm produces some of Japan's best 'wasabi' and is beautiful in its own right.

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Kiso-Ontake Mountain Range

Kiso-Ontake Mountain Range

Go Deep into the Heart of Japan

Dominated by Japan's second tallest volcano, Mount Ontake, the Kiso-Ontake Mountain Range is another of Japan's most remarkable and sacred landscapes.

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Nakasendo Trail

Nakasendo Trail

Where History & Nature Connect

Once a historic route connecting Tokyo and Kyoto, the Nakasendo can still be walked today and boasts some of Japan's best preserved Edo Period towns.

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Jigokudani Monkey Park

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Nagano's Hot Spring-loving Monkeys!

Open all year round, the monkey park is one of Nagano's most unique and intriguing destinations.

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What To Expect

Single to multi-day routes
Beginner to expert routes
Well-maintained trails
Signposted trails
Rest stations
Food/drink stations
Mountain huts (must be booked in advance)

What To Take

See our 'When to Go & What to Take' page for details

Access

Trailheads (from Hotaka Station)

Nakabusa55-min drive
Ichinosawa25-min drive
Mitsumata35-min drive

Nearby Attractions (from Hotaka Station)

Matsumoto Castle30-min drive
Hakuba Village60-min drive
Kamikochi90-min drive