Tokyo, Kyoto and a southern traverse of the Japanese Alps
A southern traverse of the Northern Alps, in five stages along the Omote Ginza route, with the ascent of a summit above 3,000 metres. Five days of high mountain walking above 2,500 metres, framed by Tokyo at the start and Kyoto at the finish.
The points that matter.
Five days of high mountain walking above 2,500 metres, along the Omote Ginza route
The ascent of a summit above 3,000 metres, with a lightened pack and a first light start
A small group of 4 to 8 people, led by an English-speaking high mountain guide
Your luggage travels from Tokyo to Kyoto while you walk, so you carry only what you need
A night at the Yarimikan ryokan and its onsen, after the descent to the valley
Tokyo at the start and Kyoto at the finish, with a guide in each of the two cities
Twelve days, six of them in the mountains.
Flight to Tokyo
Departure from France. Flight to Tokyo, meals and night on board according to your airline's schedule.
Arrival in Tokyo
Welcome at the airport, transfer and check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free, time to let the jet lag settle.
Tokyo with your guide
A day in the capital with your Tokyo guide, from the great shrines to the districts that never sleep. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Tokyo, Matsumoto and Nakabusa onsen
You leave your luggage at the hotel and keep only your trekking kit for days 5 to 10: you will find it again in Kyoto. Train to Matsumoto (2 hrs 30), a visit to the castle, then the road to Nakabusa onsen (1 hr), the starting point of the trek. Night at the Ariake hut.
Climb to the Enzanso hut and Mount Tsubakuro
The traverse begins with a steady climb through the forest to the Enzanso hut. The first panoramas open onto the alpine ranges. After a pause at the hut, you carry on to Mount Tsubakuro and its strangely shaped granite rocks.
On the ridge, towards Mount Jōnen
A day on the ridge above 2,500 metres. A colony of macaques has settled at the foot of Mount Jōnen: with a little patience, you will come across them. For those who wish to go further, a variant adds a summit to the stage.
The Omote Ginza route
The heart of the traverse, along the Omote Ginza route. The trail follows the watershed line, between scree and slopes of close cropped grass, with the Northern Alps on either side.
Ascent of a summit above 3,000 metres
The highest stage of the trip, with the ascent of a summit above 3,000 metres. An early start, a lightened pack, and a view that reaches as far as Fuji in clear weather.
Descent to the valley and onsen
After five days walking above 2,500 metres, you return to the valley. The descent passes through alpine vegetation, its lakes and its rivers. A gentle return, and a long evening in the baths of the Yarimikan ryokan. 150 m of ascent, 1,550 m of descent, 6 hrs 30 to 7 hrs of walking.
Kamikōchi, then Kyoto
Coach transfer to the village of Kamikōchi, the capital of the Japanese Alps, and a discovery of the valley. On the road to Kyoto in the afternoon, reunited with your luggage and check in at the hotel.
Kyoto
A day in Kyoto. Temples, gardens and lanes of the old capital, on foot and at your own pace.
Return flight
Transfer to the airport and return flight to France.