International Trips
Date Cost Meeting Place & Time Itinerary Difficulty, Fitness & Prerequisites Guides & Group Size Accommodation & Meals Transportation Clothing & Equipment Insurance Booking Information
Join us for a hiking adventure in Japan's scenic Northern Alps in the colourful autumn season. During six days of hut to hut hiking we will attempt three summits. Whilst great hiking and spectacular mountain scenery may be justification enough to visit Japan there's actually more! Enjoy too, wonderful hospitality and food that is becoming recognized as the best in the world.
Yamnuska has a long history with Japanese trekking. A major part of our business has been hosting Japanese hikers here in the Canadian Rockies. In doing this we have built extensive contacts in the Japanese trekking industry. Our major partner in this is Alpine Tour Systems, the top Japanese trekking company. Now with the assistance of Alpine Tours we will apply this experience to your benefit in offering you this unique hiking experience.
2009 Date
October 1 - 9
Cost
$2350.00 Canadian includes English-speaking guides, accommodation, most meals, trail snacks and local transfers. This price is based upon having a minimum of eight participants.
Not included: Airport transfers between Narita and Shinjuku, alcoholic beverages, optional snacks and gratuities.
Cancellation insurance available for $118.
Meeting Place and Time
We will meet in the lobby of the Shinjuku Washington Hotel in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo at 7pm, October 1st.
You will need to arrive at Tokyo Narita Airport by the evening of October 1st.
To get to Shinjuku, Tokyo, there are two options: train or bus, neither needs to be booked in advance. Both depart every 30 minutes and there is usually enough space.
Option 1 Train (Narita Express) $30-$45 + 8 min. walk.
Narita Airport or Airport Terminal 2 station to Shinjuku takes about 1 hour.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html (English)
Map from Shinjuku station
Option 2 Bus (Airport Limousine) $30
Narita Airport to Washington Hotel takes 85-100min.
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/index.html (English)
Please note that the cost of the airport transfer is not included.
Program Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Tokyo, meet at
Shinjuku Washington Hotel in Tokyo
Group meets in the lobby at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel at
7pm in the evening. Please see above for details on how to get there.
Following group introductions your guide will brief you about the trip
and confirm plans for the following day.
Note that dinner is not included however you will enjoy checking out the many varied restaurants and food stalls nearby.
Azusa River and Hotaka Mountain Range
Day 2: Travel to Kamikouchi
(Trail Head), hike to Yokoo Hut
We travel for 5 hours to Kamikouchi by either train or bus depending
on the size of our group. From there we hike for 3 hours beside
the Azusa River on a well-maintained trail to the Yokoo Hut. If
lucky we may see some Japanese monkeys. 10km distance, 100m
height gain. All meals supplied.
Yokoo Hut
Day 3: Hike to Yarigatake
Col and Hut
Today the hiking begins in
earnest as we start the ascent which will take us to the
summit of Mt. Yarigatake tomorrow. After a couple of hours in the
forest we start to get occasional glimpses of Mt. Yarigatake which is the fifth highest
peak in Japan. Emerging into the cirque below the Col we are
overwhelmed by the autumn colors of the deciduous forest found at
higher elevations. For the last 4km we climb steeply to the Yarigatake
Hut, which is located on the Col, and welcomethe
awaiting refreshments. 8hrs
hiking, 11km distance, 1400m height gain. All meals supplied.
Yarigatake Hut
Day 4: The First summit day to Yarigatake (3180m)
Summit day today. The hut is just below the peak of Yarigatake (3180m), so
we can easily reach the summit in morning after first getting up early
to watch a stunning sunrise from the hut. After summiting we hike back to Yokoo
Hut. 6hrs hiking, 11km distance, 1500m elevation loss.
All meals supplied.
Sunrise on Yarigatake
Day 5: Hike to Karasawa
Hut.
Today we head off in another direction, to the Karasawa Hut
which will be our base for the hike to Mt. Okuhodaka. A steady uphill
hike brings us to the Hut which is located in another alpine
cirque. This cirque is even more beautiful than that on Mt. Yarigatake
with autumn colors at their peak. 3hrs hiking, 6m distance, 685m
elevation gain. All meals supplied.
Day 6: Hike to Mt. Okuhodaka.
Mt. Okuhodaka(3190m) is the third highest mountain in Japan
and our objective. The is not for those faint of heart as it traverses
and alpine ridge with a crux made easy with ladders and protected with
chains. After enjoying the view from the summit, we descend back to the Karasawa
Hut for the evening. 6hrs hiking, 5km distance, 890m elevation gain
and loss. All meals supplied.
On the summit of Mt.Okuhodaka
Day 7: Hike to
Mt. Kitahodaka
Last but not least, Mt. Kitahodaka is the closest peak to
Mt. Yarigatake which we climbed on Day 3. Another alpine feeling
peak with a ladders and chain section. 6hrs hiking, 6km distance,
800m elevation gain and loss. All meals supplied.
Day 8: Hike out,
return to Tokyo
Our last day of hiking. We will return to the trailhead via
the Panorama route which offers us lasting views of the region. From
the trailhead we return to Tokyo and the Shinjuku Washington Hotel
from where we can head out for a celebratory dinner nearby. 6hrs
hiking, 16km distance, 800m elevation loss. Breakfast and lunch
supplied, dinner own cost.
Day 9:
Tour finishes.
After breakfast we are on our own again, either to head for
home or to further adventures in Japan. Only breakfast
supplied.
How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This is moderate difficulty tour. It is designed for fit walkers. It involves hiking for up to 8 hours per day; daily distances can range from 5km to 16km, elevation gains up to 1500m. Participants will be carrying a day pack containing spare clothing, camera, lunch and something to drink each day. Some of the trails are steep and have steep drop-offs.
Accommodation and Meals
Trail accommodation will be in Japanese mountain huts with 4 - 6 people per room. In Shinjuku rooms are shared double-occupancy, let us know if you want a single, a single supplement would then apply. We can arrange accommodation before and after the tour for you as well. Accommodation is included in the tour price the nights of October 1st to 8th.
Meals are included from breakfast on Day 2 to the lunch on Day 8. Dinner on Days 1 and 8 aren't included.
Guides and Group Size
This trip will be operated by our Japanese sister company, Alpine Tour Service. They are licensed by Parks Japan to conduct hiking tours in both National and Provincial Mountain Parks of the Japanese Alps.
Your guides are experienced professional hiking guides who speak English and who live in Japan. They are certified by the Association of Japanese Mountain Guides and have wilderness first aid training. They will be carrying emergency gear including first-aid kit and radio. Most importantly, they are chosen for their enthusiasm and interest in sharing their knowledge of these mountains.
The minimum group size will be 8, maximum 10.
Fall colors in the Japanese Alps
Getting to NARITA International Airport
Participants are responsible for getting themselves to Japan. We ourselves work with Yuka at Canadian Co-Co Tours in Banff . She specializes in travel to and from Japan. Her number is 403-762-9444. You will need to arrive in Tokyo on October 1st.
To get to Shinjuku, Tokyo, there are two options: train or bus, neither needs to be booked in advance. Both depart every 30 minutes and there is usually enough space.
Option 1 Train (Narita Express) $30-$45 + 8 min. walk.
Narita Airport or Airport Terminal 2 station to Shinjuku takes about 1 hour.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html (English)
Map from Shinjuku station
Option 2 Bus (Airport Limousine) $30
Narita Airport to Washington Hotel takes 85-100min.
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/index.html (English)
Please note that the cost of the airport transfer is not included.
Clothing and Equipment
Your guide will be carrying a full emergency and first-aid kit. You will need to bring your own daypack and personal clothing. Cotton clothing is NOT recommended as an insulating layer as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.
What to Bring
- HIKING BOOTS: These should be 'broken-in' and have good ankle support and tread. Your boots will make or break your holiday so some time spent getting used to them is time well spent.
- DAYPACK: Large enough to carry extra clothing (rain jacket & pants, sweater, gloves, hat), lunch and snack food, water bottle and camera plus accessories (rental available).
- TREKKING POLES
- SUNGLASSES
- WATER BOTTLE (1 Litre)
- SMALL BLISTER & FIRST AID KIT
- SUN BLOCK & LIP BALM
- INSECT REPELLENT
Hiking Clothing
- Wool or fleece HAT
- SUNHAT
- 3 TO 4 WARM LAYERED TOPS (1.Light weight polypro top. 2. medium or expedition weight polypropylene top. 3. fleece jacket or sweater
- T-SHIRT for warm, dry sunny days
- RAIN JACKET with HOOD and RAIN PANTS (sufficient to withstand a day of rain or snow)
- Light GLOVES or MITTS
- SOCKS, several changes.. We suggest a wool blend for comfort.
- SHORT PANTS can be very comfortable for hiking, they should be quick drying, and preferably not cotton.
- HIKING PANTS (comfortable and quick drying, not cotton)
- RUNNING SHOES OR OTHER LIGHT WEIGHT FOOTWEAR (backup in case you get blisters).
- BATHING SUIT - OPTIONAL
Optional Gear
- CAMERA AND SPARE FILM
If you have any questions or need clarification don't hesitate to call or email.
Insurance
You will need to have travel insurance covering illness and accident. Should you need to be evacuated you may be liable for this cost. It is wise, to ensure that your health plan will cover you in this case or in case or illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary.
To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $823CDN is required at time of booking. Final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the trip. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $118, this can only be purchased at the time of booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for waiver copy.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need to know anything else about this hike.
