5 Courses I Enjoyed Hiking in the Northern Alps | Introducing Scenic Views, Rocky Ridges, and Deep Wilderness Based on Personal Experience

I love the time spent walking along quiet ridgelines.

So far, in the Northern Alps, I have hiked various routes such as:

• Panorama Ginza
• Hotaka Mountain Range
• Gendarme to Daikiret
• Kumonodaira to Takamagahara
• Yomiuri Shin-do

and many others.

Even though we call it the Northern Alps, there is a wide variety of terrain.

There are scenic ridge traverses where you walk while gazing at Mt. Yari, and there are rocky ridge traverses where you focus on the rocks and the sense of height.
There are rocky ridge traverses where you focus on the rocks and the sense of height.

Furthermore, if you head into the deep interior,
a quiet world with few people spreads out before you.

This time, I will introduce five courses that have left a particularly strong impression on me among them.I will introduce five courses that have left a particularly strong impression on me among them.

I hope this will be helpful for those who want to hike the Northern Alps from now on,
or for those who are looking for their next mountain destination.

Comparison Table of Recommended Northern Alps Courses

1. Panorama Ginza | A Scenic Traverse with Constant Views of Mt. Yari

Recommended for people like this

• Those hiking a traverse in the Northern Alps for the first time

• Those who want to walk while gazing at Mt. Yari

• Those who want to enjoy a tent-stay traverse

The appeal of this course

A popular traverse route that continues from Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Otensho,
Mt. Jonen,
and Mt. Chogatake.

While walking,
you can see Mt. Yari and the Hotaka Mountain Range almost the entire time.

If you want to experience the quintessential scenery of the Northern Alps,

this is the first course I would recommend.

The view of the Yari-Hotaka peaks from Mt. Chogatake, in particular,
is something I never tire of seeing.

▶︎ Click here for a detailed hiking report
[Northern Alps] Panorama Ginza Traverse: A 2-day, 1-night hike from Mt. Tsubakuro to Mt. Otensho, Mt. Jonen, and Mt. Chogatake

② Mt. Kitahotaka to Mt. Okuhotaka: A 3-day journey to discover the charm of the Hotaka Mountain Range

Recommended for people who:

• Want to hike the Hotaka Mountain Range

• Want to gain experience on rocky terrain

• Want to see the autumn leaves in Karasawa

The appeal of this course

This is the route where I felt the scale of the Hotaka Mountain Range most intensely.

I entered from Kamikochi to Karasawa,
and hiked the ridge connecting Mt. Kitahotaka and Mt. Okuhotaka.

Although there are sections with continuous chains and ladders,
it is not as difficult as the Gendarme.

It is also recommended for your first Hotaka Mountain Range experience.

Being able to use the autumn-colored Karasawa as a base is also a major attraction.

▶︎ Click here for a detailed hiking report
[Northern Alps] Mt. Kitahotaka to Mt. Okuhotaka: A 3-day, 2-night tent stay in the autumn colors of Karasawa, covering 41km from Kamikochi

③ Gendarme to Daikiretto to Mt. Yari: The dream rocky ridge traverse

Recommended for people who:

• Love rocky ridge zones

• Want to hike the core of the Northern Alps

• I want to go on a hike that gives me a sense of accomplishment

The appeal of this course

A traverse that connects the representative difficult routes of the Northern Alps,

Gendarme
Daikiret
Mount Yari

in two days.

It sounds intimidating just by name, but
when I actually walked it, what I needed was concentration rather than courage.

Umanose,
Hidanaki,
Hasegawa Peak.

All of them left a lasting impression.

The sense of accomplishment when I finished the hike was
something special, even compared to my previous hikes.

▶︎ Click here for detailed hiking records
[Northern Alps] Gendarme, Daikiret, Mount Yari: 2-Day 40km Traverse

④ Kumonodaira - Takamagahara - Mount Akaushi | A journey through the deepest part of the Northern Alps

Recommended for people like this

• I like quiet mountains

• I want to walk in places with few people

• I want to enjoy the mountain journey itself

The appeal of this course

Personally, this is the course where I felt the most like I was on a "journey."

Kumonodaira,
Takamagahara,
Mount Akaushi.

None of these are easy places to reach, but
that makes the joy of arriving even greater.

Soaking in the Takamagahara hot springs, climbing the Onsen-zawa stream, and heading to the quiet ridge of Mount Akaushi.

If you want to feel the depth of the Northern Alps,
it is hard to think of a place better than this route.

▶︎ Click here for detailed hiking records
[Northern Alps] Kumonodaira - Takamagahara - Mt. Akaushi 70km Traverse | Walking the "Deepest Place in Japan" in 3 Days

⑤ The Great Northern Alps Loop including Yomiuri Shin-do | 4 Days Connecting Mountains in a Line

Recommended for people like this

• Those who love long-distance traverses

• Those who want to loop through remote areas

• Those who want to know the Northern Alps deeply

The appeal of this course

While walking, many times,

"The Northern Alps are so vast"

was what I thought about this course.

Mt. Yakushi,
Kurobe,
Mt. Akaushi,
Mt. Suisho,
Mt. Kurobegoro.

It is a great loop that connects famous mountains one by one.

The Yomiuri Shin-do, in particular,
has a long distance and significant elevation gain,
making it a route that tests not only physical strength but also judgment.

For those who want to travel through the entire mountain range,
I highly recommend this course.

▶︎ Click here for detailed hiking records
[Northern Alps] Great Northern Alps Loop including Yomiuri Shin-do | 4-Day, 3-Night Traverse Starting from Oritate

Summary | A "Good Course" Changes Depending on Your Goal

If,

you want to enjoy scenic views
→ Panorama Ginza

you want to try walking the Hotaka mountain range
→ Mt. Kitahotaka - Mt. Okuhotaka

If you want to challenge yourself on a dream rocky ridge,
→ Jandarm to Daikiret

If you want to travel through quiet, remote areas,
→ Kumonodaira to Takamagahara to Mt. Akaushi

If you want to deeply savor the Northern Alps,
→ The grand loop including the Yomiuri Shin-do trail

are recommended.

What all these courses have in common is that
they make you want to go back again after you finish hiking them.

In the Northern Alps,
there are still many ridges I want to hike.

I intend to continue walking,
one step at a time, along quiet ridges.

If anyone is planning a hiking trip in the Northern Alps,
I would be happy if you could also refer to the detailed articles for each.

Related Articles

▶ [Northern Alps] Takamagahara Onsen | How to get to this hidden hot spring that cannot be reached in one day, and actual hiking records

▶ What is Daikiret? | A report based on my experience hiking the Northern Alps' premier rocky ridge route

I have compiled the traverse courses I actually enjoyed hiking in the Southern Alps.
Including the routes here, I introduce quiet ridges and grand traverses to be savored over two or more nights.

▶ 5 Courses I Enjoyed Hiking in the Southern Alps | Introducing Quiet Ridges and Grand Traverses Based on Personal Experience

Conclusion

There are still many ridges in the Northern Alps that I want to hike.

Even the same mountain becomes a completely different mountain when the season or weather changes.

I intend to continue walking, one step at a time, along quiet ridges.

In addition to the courses introduced here, I have compiled records of scenic routes, traverse paths, and long routes in the Japanese Alps in a magazine.

▶ Scenic Hiking Guide | Summary of Japanese Alps, Scenic Routes, and Traverse Courses

Also, my daily hiking records are updated in the magazine below.

▶ Magazine "One Mountain at a Time, Hiking Records"

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

Until next time, on some quiet ridge somewhere.