[Northern Alps] Panorama Ginza Traverse | Hiking from Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Otensho, Mt. Jonen, and Mt. Chogatake in 2 Days and 1 Night

I hiked the popular Northern Alps traverse route, "Panorama Ginza," in 2 days and 1 night.

The start was from Nakabusa Onsen.
I crossed Mt. Tsubakuro and headed to
Mt. Otensho.

The next day,
I connected Mt. Jonen and
Mt. Chogatake before descending to Mitsumata.

The ridgeline of Mt. Yari and the Hotaka peaks remained in view the entire time.
It was truly a traverse that lived up to its name, offering a "panorama."

▶ I have compiled the scenery seen during this traverse in photos
→ [Northern Alps Spectacular Views] Panorama Ginza | A Record of the Ridgeline Overlooking Yari-Hotaka

Introduction

Panorama Ginza is a popular traverse route in the Northern Alps.

The ridgeline that continues from Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Otensho, Mt. Jonen, and Mt. Chogatake
is known as a route where you can walk while looking directly at Mt. Yari and the Hotaka mountain range.

In this article,

・The state of Panorama Ginza during the lingering snow season
・Sections where crampons are used
・The atmosphere of the traverse route

are summarized based on my actual experience.

I hope this will be helpful for those planning to hike it.

Hiking Overview

Mountain Names: Mt. Tsubakuro, Mt. Otensho, Mt. Jonen, Mt. Chogatake
Mountain Area: Northern Alps (Omote Ginza / Panorama Ginza)
Date: May 3rd–4th, 2024 (2 days, 1 night)
Weather: Sunny on both days

Course:

Day 1
Nakabusa Onsen → Mt. Tsubakuro → Enzanso → O-kudari-no-kashira → Kiritooshi-iwa → Mt. Otensho → Daitenso (Tent stay)

Day 2
Daitenso → Mt. Higashi-Otensho → Mt. Yokodori → Jonen-norikoshi → Mt. Jonen → Choyari → Mt. Chogatake → Mitsumata

Distance: 32.5km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 3155m
Activity Time: 17 hours 16 minutes

Physical Difficulty: ★★★★☆
(For experienced long-distance hikers)

Overall Course Map

Climb from Nakabusa Onsen to Mt. Tsubakuro, and
traverse the Omote Ginza route to Mt. Otensho.

The next day is a route that connects Mt. Jonen and Mt. Chogatake, descending to Mitsumata.

It was a course with many highlights,
connecting the popular traverse routes of the Northern Alps.

Reasons for choosing this mountain

A long weekend with a clear weather forecast.

I couldn't sit still,
so I planned the Panorama Ginza route that I had wanted to hike for a long time.

I dropped off my bicycle at Mitsumata,
and took a bus from Hotaka Station to Nakabusa Onsen.

The Northern Alps is a mountain area where many people hike,
and I walked while thinking that everyone was walking this ridgeline with their own personal background.

For me,
it was a ridgeline I had always wanted to walk.

I was able to experience the route up to Mt. Otensho firsthand, making it a highly satisfying mountain trip.

Course details and impressions

Nakabusa Onsen to Mt. Tsubakuro

I took a bus from Hotaka Station to Nakabusa Onsen.

This is where it starts.

The trail has many benches,
and you gain altitude through the 1st to 3rd benches and the Fujimi Bench.

As the name suggests, I could see Mt. Fuji from the Fujimi Bench.

After passing Kassen-goya, the snow increased,
and the section just below Enzan-so becomes a direct winter ascent.

Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Otensho

From the summit of Mt. Tsubakuro,

・Mt. Yari
・The Ura-Ginza ridgeline
・Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Kashimayari

You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Northern Alps mountains.

▶ I have summarized the scenery from this trip here
→ Click here for the stunning views of the Tsubakuro-Omote Ginza route

Beyond Enzan-so lies the Omote Ginza ridgeline.

Since the Kaeru-iwa rock is part of the winter route,
I passed through by going through the gap in the center.

Ahead on the ridgeline is the
massive mountain body of

Mt. Otensho

I kept walking while thinking, "Do I really have to walk all the way there?"

Mt. Otensho

The area just below the summit is a steep, gravelly climb.

The final section becomes a slope where you have to climb over rocks,
and it was a spot where I felt a bit of vertigo.

From the summit,

・The Omote Ginza ridgeline
・Mt. Yari
・Mt. Jonen

are clearly visible.

Camping at Daitenso

I arrived at the campsite just before 2:00 PM.

I had plenty of time, but because of:

・The congestion at the Mitsumata parking lot
・The fact that I wanted to stay at Daitenso

I decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing here.

Take a nap, watch the sunset, and go back to sleep.

Before I knew it, I had slept for about 13 hours.

It is a luxurious time in the mountains.

Day 2

Mt. Otensho to Mt. Jonen

Departing with the sunrise.

Mt. Yari illuminated by the morning sun was impressive.

▶ I have compiled photos of Mt. Yari at sunrise
→ Click here for the morning scenery of Panorama Ginza

Descend to Jonen-norikoshi, and
from there

Mt. Jonen

climb back up to.

From the summit,

・Hotaka Mountain Range
・Mt. Yari
・Daikiret

were clearly visible.

Mt. Jonen to Mt. Chogatake

The descent from Mt. Jonen is a rocky area.

I descended carefully, using my hands as well.

The area around Choyari becomes a forest zone, and
it was the only section on the traverse route with a lot of snow.

Crampons were used here.

▶ Click here for the record of walking Mt. Jonen from the East Ridge in winter
A 23km endurance battle in midwinter, and the view of Mt. Yari that lay beyond

Encounter with a Ptarmigan

I also encountered a ptarmigan on the traverse route.

A small male and female were walking side by side, and
I found myself completely captivated.

Mt. Chogatake

The final peak

Mt. Chogatake.

It is a popular viewpoint where you can see the ridgeline of Mt. Yari and the Hotaka mountains directly in front of you.
Many hikers were taking a break there.

Hotaka Mountain Range - Daikiret - Mt. Yari

Because it was the late snow season, there were sections where we had to take the winter route.

Winter route points

・Direct ascent just below Enzan-so・Pass through the center hole at Kaeru-iwa (Frog Rock)・Direct ascent just below Mt. Otensho

Sections where crampons were used

・Between Kassen-goya and before Enzan-so・Lower part of Mt. Jonen to before Choyari・Between Mt. Chogatake and halfway down the descent to Mimata

An ice axe was not used.

This concludes the report.

*As of May 2024

Reflections

My first time walking the Panorama Ginza.

It was a very luxurious traverse route where you can walk while looking at the ridgeline of Mt. Yari and the Hotaka mountains the entire time.

▶ I have compiled the scenery I encountered on this traverse
→ Click here for the record of the superb views of Panorama Ginza

I would like to walk it again in a different season.
It was a wonderful mountain trip with two days of clear weather.

In fact, I walked the same ridgeline again in late June of the following year after the snow had melted.
There were more flowers and the atmosphere of the ridgeline had changed significantly, making it feel like a completely different mountain trip, even though it was the same Panorama Ginza.

▶︎ [Northern Alps] Mt. Tsubakuro - Mt. Otensho - Mt. Jonen - Mt. Chogatake | 3-Day Panorama Ginza Tent Traverse in June

▶ I also have a record of walking the same Mt. Jonen from the East Ridge in mid-winter.
When conditions change, it becomes a completely different mountain.

This route is one of the five Northern Alps courses that I actually walked and enjoyed.

From superb view traverses to rocky ridge routes and mountain trips to the deepest parts of the Northern Alps, I introduce them based on my actual experiences.

▶ 5 Northern Alps courses I enjoyed walking | Introducing superb views, rocky ridges, and the deepest parts based on actual experience

Conclusion

Focusing on the mountains of Shizuoka,
I walk the ridgelines every weekend.

Rather than flashy mountains,
I prefer quiet mountains, deep mountains, and mountain trips where you have to read the conditions.

Click here for my mountain trip records so far
▶ Magazine "One Mountain at a Time, Mountain Trip Records"

If you like mountains,
I would be happy if you followed me.

Until the next mountain record.