Mount Hotaka
Encyclopedia
, also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching a height of 3190 m (10,466 ft). It is situated in Japan
's Hida Mountains
and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto
, Nagano Prefecture
, and Takayama
, Gifu Prefecture
. This mountain is located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
.
The peaks of Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka are called the Hotaka Mountains. The highest peak in this range, and also the tallest mountain in both Nagano and Gifu prefectures, is Mount Okuhotaka. Mount Hotaka is also referred to as the .
Even though the Hotaka Mountains are often climbed during times of lingering snow, like Golden Week, the following routes are strictly for snow-free periods. When snow has fallen, the area becomes extremely dangerous. Routes may become impassable, so special care is required.
The mountain climbing base at Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Mount Okuhotaka, Mount Maehotaka and the Tsuri Ridge connecting the two. Because it lies on the northern side of the mountains, snow remains throughout the year.
To the north, beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto, the ridge continues across , , ending at Mount Yari
. In the south, a ridge stretches from Mount Okuhotaka via Mount Nishihotaka to Mount Yake
. The Tsuri Ridge runs from Mount Okuhotaka to Mount Maehotaka, from where a path leads down through a cirque
to the bridge Kappabashi in Kamikōchi
. Climbing down on the Gifu side, either from the through or taking the Shinhotaka Ropeway
from next to Nishihotaka-dake, the road and can be reached in the valley below.
The ascent from the Dakesawa Hut to Kimikodaira, is the steepest in the Japanese Alps. There is no water on this ascent, and if climbing both mountains, the route to Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Maehotaka via Karasawa is more popular.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Hida Mountains
Hida Mountains
The , or , is a Japanese mountain range which stretches through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture. William Gowland coined the phrase "Japanese Alps" during his time in Japan, but he was only referring to the Hida Mountains when...
and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto
Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
, Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, and Takayama
Takayama, Gifu
is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of July, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 92,369. The total area is .Takayama was settled as far back as the Jōmon period. Takayama is best known for its inhabitants' expertise in carpentry. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the...
, Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
. This mountain is located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
Chubu-Sangaku National Park
is a national park in the Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan. It was established around the Hida Mountains and encompasses parts of Nagano, Gifu, Toyama and Niigata prefectures...
.
The peaks of Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka are called the Hotaka Mountains. The highest peak in this range, and also the tallest mountain in both Nagano and Gifu prefectures, is Mount Okuhotaka. Mount Hotaka is also referred to as the .
Peaks of the Hotaka Mountains
- is the highest peak in the Hotaka Mountain Range and the third highest in Japan after Mount FujiMount Fujiis the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
and Mount KitaMount Kitais the second tallest mountain in Japan, after Mount Fuji, and is known as "the Leader of the Southern Alps". It is included in the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. It is situated in the city of Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan...
. Its peak at 3190 m (10,466 ft) is the highest in Nagano and Gifu prefectures. - is situated on a ridge between Mount Kitahotaka and the , the location of the Hotakadake mountain cottage. The triangulationTriangulationIn trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly...
point on the top is at 3103 m (10,180 ft) while the peak reaches 3110 m (10,203 ft). - , at 3106 m (10,190 ft), is the second highest of the Hotaka peaks, lying at the northern end of the range. , on the mountain's west face, is a well-known, prominent, rocky area of Japan. Near the summit lies the Kitahotaka Hut.
- is 3090 m (10,138 ft) high and is connected to Mount Okuhotaka via the . To the north stretches the . To the west are rocks in direction of . The tip of the Kita Ridge is called . On the northeastern face lies a sheer cliff of 1000 m (3,281 ft).
- , with a peak of 2931 m (9,616 ft), lies on a mountain ridge stretching south from Mount Maehotaka. There are many climbing routes in this area., at 2909 m (9,544 ft), lies on a mountain ridge running southwest from Mount Okuhotaka, near the end of the ridge. It is surrounded by many similarly rocky peaks which makes it difficult to discriminate visually.
- , with a peak at 2907 m (9,537 ft), lies on a ridge between Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Nishihotaka.
- is the western peak of Karasawadake, rising 2742 m (8,996 ft). The winter ascend route to Mount Okuhotaka passes here.
History
- 1880 - William GowlandWilliam GowlandWilliam Gowland was an English mining engineer most famous for his archaeological work at Stonehenge and in Japan. He is known in Japan as the "Father of Japanese Archaeology", which is an exaggeration. He was a major founding figure....
climbed Mount Myōjin. - 1893 - Kiyohiko Tate climbed Mount Maehotaka, then Walter WestonWalter WestonThe Reverend Walter Weston , was an English clergyman, missionary, and mountaineer.-Background and early life:...
climbed Mount Maehotaka. Walter Weston published Mountaineering and Exploring in the Japanese Alps (1896) and introduced Japanese mountains to the world. - 1906 - Gunji Abe climbed Mount Okuhotaka at first.
- 1912 - Walter Weston climbed Mount Okuhotaka.
- December 4, 1934 - The region in this mountain was specified for the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.
Hiking routes
Even though the Hotaka Mountains are often climbed during times of lingering snow, like Golden Week, the following routes are strictly for snow-free periods. When snow has fallen, the area becomes extremely dangerous. Routes may become impassable, so special care is required.
The mountain climbing base at Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Mount Okuhotaka, Mount Maehotaka and the Tsuri Ridge connecting the two. Because it lies on the northern side of the mountains, snow remains throughout the year.
To the north, beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto, the ridge continues across , , ending at Mount Yari
Mount Yari
is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The high peak lies in the southern part of the Hida Mountains of Japan, on the border of Ōmachi and Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture...
. In the south, a ridge stretches from Mount Okuhotaka via Mount Nishihotaka to Mount Yake
Mount Yake
is an active volcano in the Hida Mountains, lying between Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching at the highest peak.-Geography:...
. The Tsuri Ridge runs from Mount Okuhotaka to Mount Maehotaka, from where a path leads down through a cirque
Cirque (landform)
thumb|250 px|Two cirques with semi-permanent snowpatches in [[Abisko National Park]], [[Sweden]].A cirque or corrie is an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion...
to the bridge Kappabashi in Kamikōchi
Kamikochi
is a remote mountainous highland in the western portion of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, which has been preserved in its natural state. It has been designated as one of Japan's National Cultural Assets. It is sometimes referred to as the "Japanese Yosemite," although it is considerably smaller than its...
. Climbing down on the Gifu side, either from the through or taking the Shinhotaka Ropeway
Shinhotaka Ropeway
The is an aerial lift system in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and is operated by . The Meitetsu Group company also operates hotels in the area. Opened in 1970, the line climbs to the hillside of the Hida Mountains' Mount Hotaka, the third tallest mountain in Japan.-Basic data:The Shinhotaka...
from next to Nishihotaka-dake, the road and can be reached in the valley below.
Beginner
- Mount Okuhotaka
- Kamikōchi ― ― ― ― Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka
- Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Panorama course (Byōbunoatama) ― Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka
- Mount Kitahotaka
- Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Yokoo ― Karasawa ― Mount Kitahotaka
- Shinhodaka Onsen ― Shinhotaka RopewayShinhotaka RopewayThe is an aerial lift system in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and is operated by . The Meitetsu Group company also operates hotels in the area. Opened in 1970, the line climbs to the hillside of the Hida Mountains' Mount Hotaka, the third tallest mountain in Japan.-Basic data:The Shinhotaka...
― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― ― Nishihodoku - Kamikōchi ― ― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― Maruyama ― Nishihodoku
Intermediate
- Mount Maehotaka - Mount Okuhotaka
- Kamikōchi ― Dakesawa Mountain Hut ― ― Mount Maehotaka ― Mount Okuhotaka
The ascent from the Dakesawa Hut to Kimikodaira, is the steepest in the Japanese Alps. There is no water on this ascent, and if climbing both mountains, the route to Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Maehotaka via Karasawa is more popular.
Advanced
- Yarihotaka traverse route
- Mount YariMount Yariis one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The high peak lies in the southern part of the Hida Mountains of Japan, on the border of Ōmachi and Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture...
― ― ― ― ― Mount Kitahotaka ― Mount Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka ― ― Mount Aino ― Mount Nishihotaka ― Nishihodoku
See also
- List of mountains in Japan
- 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
- Three-thousanders (in Japan)Three-thousanders (in Japan)The following is a list of the 21 mountains in Japan whose altitudes are 3,000 metres or greater. The tallest mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji .- Geography :There are three-thousanders in the following regions:...
- KamikōchiKamikochiis a remote mountainous highland in the western portion of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, which has been preserved in its natural state. It has been designated as one of Japan's National Cultural Assets. It is sometimes referred to as the "Japanese Yosemite," although it is considerably smaller than its...
- Mount YariMount Yariis one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The high peak lies in the southern part of the Hida Mountains of Japan, on the border of Ōmachi and Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture...
- Hida MountainsHida MountainsThe , or , is a Japanese mountain range which stretches through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture. William Gowland coined the phrase "Japanese Alps" during his time in Japan, but he was only referring to the Hida Mountains when...
- Chūbu-Sangaku National ParkChubu-Sangaku National Parkis a national park in the Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan. It was established around the Hida Mountains and encompasses parts of Nagano, Gifu, Toyama and Niigata prefectures... - Tourism in JapanTourism in JapanTourism in Japan attracted 8.3 million foreign visitors in 2008, slightly more than Singapore and Ireland. Japan has 16 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle and Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . Kyoto receives over 30 million tourists annually...
External links
- Topographic map (1:25,000)