ITINERARY
Get an Up-Close Look at the Majestic Scenery of Japan's Northern Alps, a Chain of Mountains Reaching Elevations of 3,000 Meters
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Chubusangaku National Park is one of Japan's most iconic mountainous parks, encompassing the entire Northern Alps range. The Norikura Rock Ptarmigan Route, a continuous sightseeing route linking Nagano and Gifu prefectures, offers an exceptional variety of mountain scenery. Along the way, you can enjoy sheer rock faces, deep and rugged gorges, alpine flower meadows and rock ptarmigans, snowfields lingering into summer, a U-shaped valley carved by glaciers, and volcano-formed lakes and lava plateaus. With excellent accessibility by public transportation, even beginners can comfortably experience the grandeur of Japan's alpine landscapes.
Itinerary Highlights
- Enjoy the vast natural landscapes of the Norikura Kogen highlands through off-road cycling.
- Challenge yourself to a hike up a 3,000-meter mountain, starting from Japan's highest-altitude bus stop at 2,716 meters.
- Take in superb views of the Northern Alps on a bus tour visiting the Shinhotaka Ropeway and Kamikochi.
Enjoy off-road cycling in the vast natural setting of the Norikura Kogen highlands
Travel by train from Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima Station, then continue on to Norikura Kogen. After lunch, join an off-road cycling tour. This light, guided tour allows you to explore the highlands on a mountain bike at an easy pace, enjoying off-road cycling with instruction from your guide.
Afterward, stroll through Ichinose Meadow, a peaceful area dotted with streams and wetlands, and enjoy the beautiful evening sun. The route is designed to be fun for participants of all ages, from children to seniors, each at their own pace and comfort level.
Take a relatively accessible route as you tackle a hike up Kengamine Peak, with an elevation of around 3,000 meters
Depart Norikura Kogen by bus and arrive at Japan's highest bus stop at an elevation of 2,716 meters. From here, begin your ascent up Kengamine Peak, one of the peaks of Mount Norikura. The route takes about three and a half hours, passing Katanokoya mountain hut, Kodama Peak, and Kengamine Peak before descending to the Norikura Bus Terminal. With proper equipment, this route offers a relatively accessible way to experience a hike up a mountain in the 3,000 meter elevation range.
After lunch, travel to Honokidaira, then continue on to Hirayu Onsen, stopping at the Oku-Hida Visitor Center. Spend the night at accommodations in the Okuhida Onsengo hot spring village.
Take a bus tour to visit the Shinhotaka Ropeway and Kamikochi, offering the two major panoramic views of the Northern Alps
On the final day, join a full-day bus tour visiting the Shinhotaka Ropeway and Kamikochi, where you can enjoy the two major panoramic views of the Northern Alps. At the Shinhotaka Ropeway, you'll marvel at spectacular alpine views featured as a two-star attraction in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. In Kamikochi, you'll immerse yourself in a magnificent natural setting while strolling around Taisho Pond and Kappabashi Bridge. The bus will then take you to Takayama Station, where the tour will disperse in the early evening.