For those who learn this website with any regularity, then you already know I really like the Japanese Alps. From cities like Matsumoto and Takayama, to pure escapes all through the area, it’s an underrated and endlessly satisfying a part of Japan.
With this being stated, it doesn’t instantly attraction to everybody—particularly not Europeans. “That doesn’t look Alpine in any respect,” my Swiss finest pal stated to me once I despatched her some photos after my very first journey to Japan’s mountains greater than a decade in the past.
I’ll tackle this discrepancy extra in only a second—it isn’t simply due to how a lot my images has improved. However for now, I’ll provide you with a spoiler alert: For those who head to the Senjojiki Cirque within the Chuo Alps, chances are you’ll certainly really feel such as you’re in Europe.
Why the Japanese Alps (Principally) Don’t Look Alpine
In a second, I’ll inform you exactly how one can combine the Senjojiki Cirque into your Japanese Alps itinerary. For now, nonetheless, I wish to tackle the elephant within the room—particularly, why so many components of the Japanese Alps don’t look “alpine.” Successfully, there are two causes for this: First, that the Japanese Alps are usually not as excessive because the European ones, and secondly as a result of they aren’t as developed: Most of the most alpine locations are merely not accessible.
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Learn how to Attain the Senjojiki Cirque
Begin in Matsumoto or Nagano
Though you may technically go to the Chuo Alps from wherever within the Japanese Alps area, it’s best to get there from main cities like Matsumoto and Nagano. Matsumoto specifically is essentially the most handy place to start out, because it sits proper alongside the JR Chuo Line, which you will have to take to start out your journey.
Take into account renting a automobile
Nicely, except you hire a automobile. Whereas this will’t take you all the way in which to the highest (for causes I’ll clarify in only a second), it does prevent having to navigate native prepare schedules, or to spend longer in transit than you want. Plus, driving in Japan is extraordinarily secure, and means simpler than you assume.
(Or taking a really early prepare)
In fact, you don’t must drive. However for those who do take a prepare (the JR Chuo Line, with an intermediate cease at stations equivalent to Tatsuno or Okaya, you may anticipate to spend as much as two hours every means en route—and that’s simply to the ropeway base station. Consequently, you must plan on leaving early.
Trip Japan’s highest ropeway
Whether or not you drive or take a prepare, attending to the place to begin of the Senjojiki hike requires that you just experience the Komagatake Ropeway, Japan’s highest. It is a thrilling expertise, in no small half as a result of if the climate is obvious, you’ll be capable to see Mt. Fuji looming within the distance.
Take your time climbing
Presuming you go to throughout months when climbing is feasible (principally summer time, plus very late spring and really early fall), the excellent news is that climbing may be very simple—the path is principally only a huge staircase, albeit with comparatively irregular stones as a substitute of concrete steps. With this stated, I like to recommend taking your time whereas climbing, no matter how far up you go.
The Finest Time to Go to the Senjojiki Cirque
The Senjojiki Cirque, like Japan basically, is a four-season vacation spot. Clearly, the very heat months between about June and September are finest for climbing. Nonetheless, because the space is accessible through ropeway, and since you may take pleasure in a view of the mountain surroundings proper from the customer’s middle, you may actually go in any season, be that amid the deep snow of winter, or in autumn when colours blaze.
One factor I’d say? As a result of a lot of the Senjojiki Alps expertise is…properly, with the ability to see the mountains, it’s actually important that you just go on a transparent day. There are different causes for this as properly. For one, if it’s wet, then any climbing you do turns into way more precarious, even harmful. Secondly, on a transparent day you may see Mt. Fuji within the distance whereas using the ropeway, including one other lay of pleasure to your journey.
Different FAQ About Mountain climbing Japan’s Senjojiki Cirque
How do you get to Senjojiki Cirque?
You in the end must get from Matsumoto Station to the bottom station of the Komagatake Ropeway. This entails both using the JR Chuo Line to Komagane Station and getting a bus from there, or renting a automobile and driving to the car parking zone close to the bus cease in Komagane.
Is Senjojiki Cirque price it?
For those who go on a transparent day (and ideally in the summertime, when it’s attainable and comparatively simple to hike), then it’s positively price it to go to the Senjojiki Cirque. However, if the climate is dangerous or for those who go to in a season when it’s too chilly to hike, the ROI of your journey could also be worse.
What’s the highest ropeway in Japan?
The Komagatake Ropeway, which is the one strategy to entry the so-called “Senjojiki Cirque” of the Japanese Alps, is the best ropeway in Japan. It’s one in every of my favorites, too, and along with providing fast entry to the Chuo Alps, affords riders a view of Mt. Fuji on a transparent day.
The Backside Line
From a pure aesthetic perspective, the Chuo Alps are most likely essentially the most satisfying place in the whole Japanese Alps—actually, they’re the place you get the clearest sense of being in an Alpine place, with towering snow-capped peaks, uncommon flora and clear, blue skies. Higher but, they’re a simple day journey from Matsumoto, whether or not you utilize your personal automobile to drive many of the means, or make the whole journey through public transportation. They’re additionally beautiful in each season—and even in the midst of summer time, the air is recent and funky. Want personalised assist integrating the so-called Senjojiki Cirque into your subsequent Japan journey? Fee a customized Japan itinerary immediately!