白根三山
Overview
A 3-day traverse through Japan's Southern Alps, summiting Kita-dake and Aino-dake. Autumn colours, mountain huts, and alpine ridgelines.
Dates
13 Sep – 17 Sep
5 days, 3 on trail
Summit
3,193m
Kita-dake
Group
Max 7
5 + 2 leaders
Difficulty
Moderate–Hard
≤ 1,500m gain / day
Route
Arrive in Tokyo by 9:30am. We rent a car and drive together through Yamanashi to the Hirogawara trailhead. Settle in at the mountain lodge and prepare for the days ahead. Stock up on onigiri and trail snacks at a konbini stop along the way.
The trail begins right at the lodge. A relentless but rewarding ascent through dense forest that gradually opens into alpine scrub. The tree line breaks around 2,600m and the views of the Southern Alps start to unfold. Grab breakfast and lunch from the konbini stash — dinner is served at the hut.
The crux of the traverse. Summit Kita-dake (3,193m) — Japan's second highest peak — then push along the exposed ridge to Aino-dake (3,190m). On a clear day, Fuji floats on the eastern horizon. A long, steep descent through loose rock and alpine meadows drops you into the valley at Daimonzawa-koya. The hardest day, but the most rewarding.
A gentle forest descent along a river valley. The canopy is thick with autumn colour — reds, oranges, and golds filtering the morning light. The trail ends at Narada Onsen, where you can soak tired legs in the hot spring before heading back to civilisation.
We drive back to Tokyo in the morning. Breakfast is covered before we leave. If your flight is in the evening, there's time to wander Shinjuku, hit an izakaya, or grab a bowl of ramen before heading to the airport. Book a late afternoon or night flight if leaving the same day.