Mount Hokata 穂高岳
The leader of the Northern Alps
Mount Hokata is a mountain made up of several peaks located within the Hida Mountains, in the Japanese Northern Alps. Nicknamed "the leader of the Northern Alps" because of its summit - the third highest in the archipelago - its ascent offers a diversity of panoramas that attract walkers from all over Japan.
One mountain, 8 peaks
Mount Hokata is Japan's third-highest mountain, after the inevitable Mount Fuji and Mount Kita in the Southern Alps.
It is also one of the mountains climbed at the end of the 19th century by the "father of Japanese mountaineering" Walter Weston, who made it possible to popularize the Japanese Alps throughout the world.
Located between the cities of Matsumoto (Nagano prefecture) and Takayama (Gifu prefecture), the mountain, which belongs to the list of the 100 famous mountains of Japan, has the particularity of having some 8 peaks.
View of Nishihokata Peak - Mount Hokata
Wikipedia
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4 peaks whose height exceeds 3,000 meters: Mount Okuhotaka (3,190 meters), Mount Karasawa (3,110 meters), Mount Kitahokata (3,106 meters), and Mount Maehokata (3,090 meters)
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3 peaks whose head exceeds 2,900 meters: Mount Myojin (2,931 meters), Mount Nishihokata (2,909 meters), and Mount Aino (2,907 meters)
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And finally the little brother, Mount Gamadafuji (2,742 meters)
Don't miss the ride!
Mount Hokata is popular with walkers and mountaineers of all levels for the various natural wonders that Mount holds.
The geological jewel at the bottom of the mount is the Kamikochi Valley - "Japanese Yosemite Valley" one of the most beautiful in all of Japan, which faces north to Mount Hokata.
Tourists flock to the valley's iconic point, the Kappa Bridge, which crosses the Azusa River, a tributary of Lake Taisho.
Kamikochi's Kappabashi Bridge paves the way for climbing high peaks.
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Higher up, if you take the paths of Mount Okuhokata and Mount Kitahokata – the most accessible routes – you reach the Karasawa cirque just before the peaks, located at an altitude of 2,300 meters.
The circus is the major attraction of the heights, coloring itself with the bright colors of spring and autumn while the snow remains on many walls in summer, opening up the possibility of skiing in the summer period.
- Read also: The best hikes in the Japanese Alps
Karasawa Circus
Wikipedia
Finally, for the laziest, the Shin-hokata cable car, the longest in Asia, will take you to the top of the Nishi Hokatadake, at over 2,900 meters.
The crossing of the heights will allow you to admire, depending on the season, the magnificent snow cover of the mountain, or the nature in the full bloom of the Sengoku Enchi park and its virgin forest!
- Read also: The Japanese Alps
The Shinhotaka Ropeway.
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Address, timetable & access
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Address
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Timetable
From JR Matsumoto Station, take the Matsumoto Dentetsu Kamikochi Line to Shinshimashima Station (30 min). From there take the bus to the Kamikochi terminal (70 min).
