Bashukway Travel

Southern Alps Self Guided Hiking Japan 6 days ex Tokyo Only in Japan can you start your day in the world's largest metropolis and end it in a mountain hut with nothing around you but fresh alpine air. While Japan's urban attractions are endless, the fact that so much of the population live in its mega cities means this mountainous country is also a paradise for outdoor adventurers. This six day trip takes you right from the centre of Tokyo to a part of Japan that few people, locals or tourists, are lucky enough to visit. The hiking route takes you hight into the Southern Alps mountain range and follows a seldom-travelled ridge that runs from Mt. Kita, Japan's second-highest mountain, to Mt. Kai-Komaga, an ancient pilgrimage destination. Along the way you'll trek through fields of alpine wildflowers, pay your respects to Shinto mountain gods at trailside shrines, and, weather permitting, catch stunning views of iconic Mt. Fuji. You'll tread lightly on the earth on this expedition, traveling by fuel-efficient trains and staying in traditional inns and simple mountain huts, and enjoying ample opportunities to meet local outdoor adventurers. Alpine Japan is like nowhere else - let yourself see this amazing country from above the clouds. Accommodation, breakfasts and dinners are all organised for you at rustic mountain huts along the way so there is no need to carry a tent or food (apart from lunches and snacks for during the day. We provide detailed hiking maps, trail information as well as facts about the things you will see en route. In Tokyo we can also organize fully guided tours of the area or help you do some of the great activities on offer – cooking schools, tea ceremony, calligraphy lessons, sumo stable visits and much more – you just tell us what you would like to do!
Itinerary		Trip details
Day 1 Arrive Tokyo	Arrive in Tokyo and transfer by train to your hotel. The day is yours to explore this amazing metropolis and your local guide will meet you in the evening to go over trip notes, give you a basic language lesson and suggest some great places for dinner tonight. Armed with your new language skills, you're free to head out for a night under the bright lights of Tokyo - the last you'll see of civilization for the next four days!	Highlights Tokyo's neon, Summit Japan's 2nd highest mountain, Eye level views of Fuji, Rustic Huts, Stunning alpine scenery, Mountain shrines. Trip code SGSA Group size min 1 (private tour) Inclusions All accommodation Maps Detailed route directions Meal and sightseeing suggestions Detailed history of areas Accommodation Traditional inns (2 nts), mountain huts (3 nts). Meals 5 breakfasts, 5 dinners. Important notes Some accommodation on this trip has shared bathroom facilities. booking enquiry
Day 2 Southern Alps hike	You make an early start this morning to head to Yamanashi Prefecture, home of Mt Fuji and the spectacular Southern Alps mountain range, travelling on Japan's world renowned rail system. From Kofu city you transfer by bus to the village of Hirogawara where the trek begins. Shoulder your packs at the trailhead and climb up (and up and up) for about seven hours to reach the simple mountain hut just below the summit of Japan's second-highest mountain, Mt Kita where you will spend the night.
Day 3 Southern Alps hike	The day begins before sunrise today, as you climb the final steps from the hut to the summit of Mt. Kita. At 3,192m, Mt. Kita is just 582m lower than Mt. Fuji, so if the weather cooperates (fingers crossed!) you'll enjoy some unbeatable eye-level views of the iconic mountain from the summit. Continue hiking for about six hours along an alpine ridge trail to the mountain hut on Mt. Senjo where you spend the night tonight. Mountain huts in Japan are famously social places - bring some snacks and a phrasebook and expect to meet a hut full of like-minded adventurers.
Day 4 Southern Alps hike	It's an early start again today, as you continue along a stunning ridge trail from Mt. Senjo over to Mt. Kai-Komaga (ten hours). With Mt Fuji and Mt Kita behind us and the gorgeous Northern Alps to look at as we trek, you'll want to keep those cameras out. You'll reach the summit of Mt. Kai-Komaga in the late afternoon today, and spend the night at a hut another two hours down the trail.
Day 5 Return to Tokyo	You descend from the mountains today, but you're not going down easy! The route down from Mt. Kai-Komaga takes in a challenging mixture of knife-edged ridges, chains, and a vertical ladder down a sheer cliff-face. Keep a few one yen coins handy to donate to the mountain deities' shrines you'll encounter along the trail. You'll reach the trailhead in the early afternoon today, after seven hours of hiking. Set your packs down here and grab a beer (or three) from the well-placed vending machine before heading to the local public baths to enjoy a well-earned soak. You'll transfer by taxi back to the train station, and then by local and express train back to Tokyo.
Day 6 Depart Tokyo	Enjoy a well earned sleep-in this morning before heading out to explore Tokyo at your own pace. If you're interested, why not try a cycling tour of some off-the-beaten-track sights in the city? Of course, if your legs are more interested in a shiatsu massage, we can arrange that too. You can depart anytime today.