Q. How long does it take to hike through the Japanese Alps?

A. It took me 42 days from one side to another side of Japan(15 days in Southern Alps, 11 days in Central Alps and Ontake area, 16 days in Northern Alps). I walked about 500km and took a few Zero Days. Before I did this hike I hadn't know anything about Light Hiking and I was carrying too many things. If you are more used to long distance hiking and fit, it would take less than 40 days.

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Q. When is the best season to hike in Japan?

A. Late July to beginning of October is so called summer season.

There should be some remained snow in July especially in Northern Alps. The summer in Japanese Alps is really short and sometimes it snows even in the middle of summer. So please always be aware of the changeable weather. The temperature can be below zero in the night even in summer.

The leaves turn the colours in the late Sep. to Oct.. It's definitely one of the best scenery in Japanese Alps.

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Q. Where can I buy food and other supplies?

A. I bought food before each sections in Sizuoka city, Komagane city and Kisofukushima. These 3 cities are quite big and there are supermarket, pharmacies and almost all kinds of stores. But I'm not very sure if you can get gas canisters for your stoves. If you want, you can send your supplies to post offices and they usually keep your parcels at free of charge.

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Link to Post office HP; https://www.post.japanpost.jp/index_en.html

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Q. Can I get food on the trail?

A. There are many lodges in Japanese Alps and they serve meals. You can also stay there. Usually, lunch costs about 1000 yen, dinner is between 2,000 and 3,000 yen. The lodges are only open in summer season. Most of the lodges are closed before July and after mid of October.

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Q. Can I get water from the streams in mountains?

A. Basically the water in Japanese Alps is very clean and delicious! Good to drink. But if there are huts on the upstream, I wouldn't take water from that stream. If you are going to Hokkaido area(North of Japan), you should be more be careful of water. Some streams are contaminated by foxes.

Anyway, it's more safe to use filters even in Japanese Alps.

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Q. Where can I get the maps for the Alps area?

A. There are some choices.

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①Japan Alps Hiking Map (https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/japan-alps-hiking-map/id1240709282)

You can use this app offline if you buy tickets in the app.

Cost: 600 yen for two weeks, 4,800 yen for a year.

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②Yama to Kogen Chizu (https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/id504487370?mt=8)

The app from Shobunsha(the most popular map company in Japan). Very informative and useful but it's only in Japanese... It can be used offline.

Cost: 500 yen for each map (You will need at least 8 maps if you hike through all Japanese Alps) 

You can get paper version for this maps in book stores. Each maps costs about 1,000 yen. 

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Q. Where can I stay while hiking? Where can I take a bath?

A. You can put your tent at the campsites beside the lodges. Usually the lodges in Japanese Alps have campground for you to put tents. Basically most of Japanese Alps area is National Park and it is prohibited stay outside of designated places. Please respect the rule.

The cost is between 500 yen and 1,500 yen and you will be allowed to use some of the facilities of the lodges, such as bathrooms. Some lodges have different facilities for the customers staying at the lodge and for the campers. It usually costs 6,000 to 10,000 yen.

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Even though you stay at lodges, basically the lodges don't have showers. They don't have abundant water in the mountains, so please try to use less water at the lodges.

But there are some lodges with Onsen(natural hot spring), and you can take bath. Below is the list of the lodges with hot springs.

・Hakubayari Hut (Northern Alps)

・Kamikochi area (there are some hotels here, Northern Alps)

・Tateyama area (there are some hotels here, Northern Alps)

・Takamagahara Hut (Northern Alps)

・Shirahone Onsen (between Northern Alps and Norikura-dake)

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Of course, in the cities between the mountains there are some hotels or cheaper hostels and you can have a rest. The cost ranges from 3,000 to 10,000.

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Q. What are the lodges like?

A. Most lodges are open only for summer (July to October). If you stay at a lodge, you can choose have meals or not. The cost stay without meals is about 5,000 to 6,000 yen. And the cost with 2 meals is about 10,000.

They don't have beds but Futon (Japanese style mattress) and you might have to share a mattress with another person in the peak periods. If you don't want to stay like that, I recommend you to book a private room beforehand.

It's preferable to arrive at a lodge before 4 pm. The daytime in Japan is not as long as that in Europe and it can be very dark around 6 pm. Also Japanese hikers start the day very early around 4 or 5 am.

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Q. Is there any danger on the trail in Japan?

A. Venomous snakes, bears and volcanoes.

There are snakes and bears in Japan but as long as you are on the main track of the Alps, you hardly ever see one. Snakes like dark and wet places, so avoid unnecessary bush walking. Also it's recommended to wear long pants to cover your legs.

There are some active volcanoes in the Alps area.

・Ontake (near Central Alps area, erupted in 2014)

・Yakedake (Northen Alps)

・Tateyama (Northen Alps)