Mt. Karasawa

Mt. Karasawa (涸沢岳, 3,110 m), on the border of Matsumoto (Nagano) and Takayama (Gifu), stands on the Hotaka range between Mt. Okuhotaka and Mt. Kitahotaka and is the eighth-highest mountain in Japan. It is one of the 100 Highest Mountains.
It rises directly above the Hotakadake Sanso hut at the Shirade-no-koru col, so it is the nearest 3,000 m peak to the hut — an easy add-on with a grand summit view of Mt. Okuhotaka, Mt. Yari and the Northern Alps. The usual route climbs from Kamikochi via Karasawa and the Zaitengrat to the Hotakadake Sanso hut, where you stay one night before topping out on Mt. Karasawa — at least two days. By public transport you reach Kamikochi (Nagano side) or Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side) and then traverse to the summit.

The base is Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1,500 m); via Yokoo and Karasawa you climb the chains and ladders of the Zaitengrat to the Hotakadake Sanso hut at the Shirade-no-koru col (about 2,983 m), and it is about 15 minutes from the hut to the summit of Mt. Karasawa. It is about 8 hours 30 minutes one way from Kamikochi to the hut, with an overnight at Karasawa usual. On the Hida side it is about 9 hours from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via Shirade-sawa to the hut, with no hut in between (for experienced climbers).
Use the Hotakadake Sanso hut (reservations only, tel 0578-82-2150, open 27 April–3 November 2026) as a base. The season is mid-July to early October once the snow has gone; before that, front-point crampons and an ice axe are needed. The ridge from Mt. Karasawa to Mt. Kitahotaka is one of the most difficult sections in the Hotaka range and is outside the scope of this article.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (trailhead)
2. [Return] Kamikochi (trailhead) → Shin-Shimashima Station
3. [Round trip] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side)

1. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (trailhead)

The Nagano-side base is Shin-Shimashima Station, about 24 minutes from Matsumoto Station on the Matsumoto Dentetsu Kamikochi Line; from here take the Alpico Kotsu bus bound for Kamikochi to the terminus, Kamikochi Bus Terminal (about 1 hour 30 minutes). As Kamikochi is closed to private cars year-round, the bus is the basic way in (2026 service April 17–November 15; closed in winter). The direct “Sawayaka Shinshu-go” express bus also runs from Shinjuku and Osaka.

Bus timetable ①: Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi (Alpico Kotsu, outbound)

Sawayaka Shinshu-go (direct express): Shinjuku 22:57 → Kamikochi 5:20 next day (night service), Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai) 21:30 → 5:20 next day, etc. Book via Highway Bus Dot Com. By car: change to a Kamikochi bus or taxi at the Sawando (Matsumoto side) or Akandana (Takayama side) car parks.

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Kamikochi Line (Shin-Shimashima–Kamikochi)]

2. [Return] Kamikochi (trailhead) → Shin-Shimashima Station

After descending, take the Alpico Kotsu bus from Kamikochi Bus Terminal back to Shin-Shimashima Station and the Kamikochi Line to Matsumoto (bus about 1 hour 30 minutes plus rail about 24 minutes). The return runs about every 40 minutes during the day, with the last bus leaving Kamikochi at 17:55. The long descent from Karasawa takes time, so keep margin for the last bus.

Bus timetable ②: Kamikochi → Shin-Shimashima Station (Alpico Kotsu, return)

Reference: [Alpico Kotsu — Kamikochi Line (Shin-Shimashima–Kamikochi)]

3. [Round trip] Takayama → Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Hida side)

To climb the Shirade-sawa route from the Hida side, take the Nohi Bus from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center in front of JR Takayama Station via Hirayu Onsen to the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway (Shin-Hotaka Onsen) — about 1 hour 45 minutes, fare 2,200 yen. Hirayu Onsen is the transfer hub; you can also reach Shin-Hotaka Onsen from Matsumoto via Shin-Shimashima and Sawando (Matsumoto–Shin-Hotaka Onsen 3,910 yen, by reservation).

Bus timetable ③: Takayama Nohi BC ⇄ Shin-Hotaka Ropeway (Nohi Bus)

Note on the Shirade-sawa route: Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Shirade-sawa → Hotakadake Sanso is about 9 hours with no hut in between, for experienced climbers; it reopened in 2022 after a 2020 earthquake-swarm landslide, but a helmet is essential for rockfall and snow lingers until late July. Check the latest conditions with the Hotakadake Sanso hut before setting out.

Reference: [Nohi Bus — Shin-Hotaka Line]

Route and safety notes

Route ① (standard, Nagano side): Kamikochi → Yokoo (about 3 h) → Karasawa (about 2.5–3.5 h) → Zaitengrat → Hotakadake Sanso (about 1 h 30 m) → Mt. Karasawa (about 15 m). Kamikochi to the hut is about 8 h 30 m one way, about 35 km, with about 1,485 m of gain, staying at Karasawa or the hut over one night and two days to two nights and three days. It is the nearest 3,000 m peak to the hut, about 15 minutes there and back.

Route ② (Hida side, for the experienced): Shin-Hotaka Onsen → Shirade-sawa → Hotakadake Sanso → Mt. Karasawa, about 9 hours, with no hut in between; take care over rockfall, snow and stream crossings.

Access and buses: on the Nagano side take the Kamikochi bus from Shin-Shimashima Station (outbound Shin-Shimashima 7:10 → Kamikochi 8:18); on the Hida side from Takayama to Shin-Hotaka Onsen (Takayama 7:00 → 8:16). Kamikochi is car-restricted year-round, so the bus is essential.

The Zaitengrat: a high, exposed rocky ridge with continuous chains and ladders; take care over falls and rockfall. The climb from the hut to Mt. Karasawa is also rocky.

Toward Mt. Kitahotaka: the ridge from Mt. Karasawa to Mt. Kitahotaka is one of the most difficult sections in the Hotaka range, with continuous chains and ladders; general hikers should turn back at the hut.

Hut, season and gear: Hotakadake Sanso is reservation-only (tel 0578-82-2150, 27 Apr–3 Nov 2026). The season is mid-July to early October; in the snow season front-point crampons and an ice axe are essential. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a helmet and a headlamp.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest via the Nagano and Gifu Northern Alps mountain-rescue councils.

Photo by Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0