Located in the heart of the Hotaka peaks, in the southern part of the Northern Japanese Alps, the Karasawa Cirque is one of Japan’s great glacial cirques. With mountain peaks such as Mt. Maehotaka (Maehotaka-dake), Mt. Okuhotaka (Okuhotaka-dake), Mt. Karasawa (Karasawa-dake), Mt. Kitahotaka (Kitahotaka-dake), and Byobu-iwa Rock out in backdrop, lovely alpine plants bloom in the summertime and radiant foliage creates colorful autumn vistas. Two mountain huts, Karasawa Hutte and Karasawa-goya, serve the area as well as providing popular locations to set up tents. While some amount of mountain climbing experience is needed to climb the Hotaka peaks, even a beginner can hike as far as Karasawa without much difficulty.
The Karasawa Cirque, round trip from Kamikochi
One of Japan’s great glacial cirque, in the heart of the Hotaka peaks.
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- Duration
- 2Days / 11.5Hours
- Highest Point
- 2309m
- Elevation Gain
- 800m
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- Skill Level
- Fitness Level
- Gear Level
A short walk along paved roads takes you from the Kamikochi Bus Terminal to Kappa Bridge (Kappabashi). There are many hotels and souvenir shops in the area around the Bridge and it is usually crowded with tourists. Continue on without crossing the Bridge, and go past the Konashidaira Camping Area.
Later on, after you pass the Myojin area, travel across a small slope as the path curves away from the river side and into the forest.
The hike from Kamikochi to Tokusawa takes approximately 2 hours. In addition to its campground, the area has a popular meadow and two huts: Tokusawa Lodge and Tokusawa-en.
From Tokusawa, it takes another hour to get to Yokoo, while you pass by a large mountain hut, Yokoo Sanso. At this point, you will have hiked around 10 kilo meters over roughly 3 hours. The path branches at Yokoo into separate paths leading to Mt. Karasawa and Mt. Hotaka, and a path leading to Mt. Yarigatake.
From Yokoo, cross the Yokoo-ohashi Bridge and follow the path through a forested area. On the other side of the valley, you can see the Byobu-iwa Rock. Once you cross the Hontani Bridge, the slope becomes significantly steeper. A zigzagging path continues for some time after this, but the well-maintained course weaves through the rocky terrain in a manner that makes it easy to negotiate. The path then traverses a collapsed area of the course and passes through birch trees and shrubs. As you emerge into the clearing, your field of view opens up.
Next, hike up through a rocky section of the course. In years with heavy snowfall, there might be snow left around the course until mid-August. You will come to a fork in the path, the right side of which leads to the Karasawa-goya mountain hut. Turn left and ascend the stone steps to reach the Karasawa Hutte. You have now reached the Karasawa Cirque. On a clear day, you can see the panorama of mountain peaks surrounding the Cirque.
On your return trip, simply follow the same path in reverse.
Gallery
Bottom of the Karasawa Cirque, carved by glaciers long ago. There are 2 large mountain huts and a camping area there
An Aleutian avens colony at the Karasawa Cirque in summer
The Karasawa Cirque's camping area
The Karasawa Cirque is one of Japan's most popular alpine spots for autumn foliage
Other Info
If you have time and energy to spare on your return hike, it’s recommended that you walk along the right bank of the Azusa River (Azusa-gawa) via Myojin. Along the way you can see some sights that you can’t see along the left bank. At the Hotaka-jinja-okumiya Shrine, you will find Myojin-ike Pond, a place of mystical serenity. In early summer, you can also enjoy the sight of beautiful rhododendron blooms.
Best Season:July to early October
If you go to this trail outside of the best season, you should pay attention to weather and trail conditions, as the mountain is located in a snowy area; there may still be snow on the trail in June, and it may start snowing from October. Snow mountaineering equipements and experience are required during the winter season.
Notes
Karasawa becomes especially crowded in the autumn foliage season, usually from end of September to early October. So, it is recommended to reserve at a mountain hut well in advance. You should also be prepared for line-ups at check in and at the toilets.
Route Map
Elevation Map
Height (m)
Horizontal Distance (km)
Spec
- Duration
- 2Days / 11.5Hours
- Highest Point
- 2309m
- Elevation Gain
- 800m
- Horizontal Distance
- 31Km
- Skill Level
- Fitness Level
- Gear Level
On the Trail
- Sleeping
Myojin-kan, Tokusawa Lodge, Tokusawa-en,
Karasawa Hutte, Karasawa-goya
- Eating
The Kamikochi Bus Terminal, where the Hike begins/ends, has a restaurant called the Kamikochi Shokudo on the second floor. Additionally, all mountain huts offer meals to their customers in dining halls
- Hot-Springs
Konashi-no-Yu
