Japanese Alps

With mountain peaks that glisten in the snow, deep valleys filled with trees and streams, and some of the greatest encounters for wildlife in Japan, the Alpine mountains of Honshu are a perfect location for school groups looking to experience the diversity of Japan.

The Japanese Alps traditionally refer to the Hida Mountains, but more commonly refer to the Kiso and Akaishi Mountains also. The flora and fauna of this region of Japan is flourishing and comes in many different varieties – from the Japanese serow, to the protected rock ptarmigan, to Siberian dwarf pines and flowering meadows. Exploring the Japanese Alps offers a distinctly different side of Japan from the urban centres and developed cities, and is a haven for the historic and spiritual heart of the Japanese culture. 

These three ranges include peaks that soar over 3,000 metres and are home to the next tallest mountains after Mount Fuji – Mount Kita (3,193 metres), Mount Hotaka (3,190 metres), and Mount Otake (3,067 metres) which is also the second tallest volcano after Fuji. Mount Otake is still active and is regarded as a sacred place for shamans with people making pilgrimages to the summit. These mountains offer routes that cater to beginners, intermediate trekkers, and more advanced routes for a challenging ascent.