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Japan › Northern Japan Alps

1 nights / 2 days / approx. 32.5 km / High point 2,350m

Karasawa from Kamikochi

Kamikochi → Karasawa-goya → Kamikochi

Along the Azusa river from Kamikochi via Tokusawa and Yokoo, then up the Yokoo valley to the Karasawa cirque below the Hotaka walls.

How hard is it?

Moderate.
Walkable path

Stamina 5 / 10Walking 11h18

“1 night or more is advisable”

Technical B

Steep ups and downs; hiking experience needed

Typical
1 nights / 2 days
Walking time
11h18walking only, no breaks
Distance
approx. 32.5 km
Total climb
approx. 1,170m high point Karasawa-goya 2,350m

Stamina and technical grades: Nagano Prefecture mountain grading, No.13 (our translation). HutsGo is still checking these against the table. See the table

How do I get there?

Reachable by Bus.
Back to the same trailhead. Private cars restricted

  1. Sawando or Hirayu 沢渡・平湯
  2. Bus
  3. Kamikochi 1,500m / Restricted (park and change)
  4. 1 nights / 2 days, out and back
  5. Kamikochi Back to the same trailhead

Last ride down 17:55 Matsumoto / Shinshimashima to Kamikochi (松本・新島々〜上高地)

Times, fares and parking →

When are the huts open?

Open today (10/23): 4 of 4 huts

2026 season dates, from each hut's official site and Nagano Prefecture's hut list (sources on each hut page).

When does booking open?

4 huts to stay at. Book with each hut (HutsGo takes no bookings).

Pick your huts and plan the days

Map and elevation

Elevation profile of Karasawa from Kamikochi. Horizontal axis is cumulative walking time, vertical axis is elevation.1,5002,0002,500mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi 1,500mTokusawaen (徳澤園) · 1,560m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Tokusawaen 1,560mYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Yokoo Sanso 1,620mKarasawa Hutte (涸沢ヒュッテ) · Elevation not confirmed · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa Hutte Not confirmedKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa-goya 2,350mYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the startYokoo Sanso 1,620mTokusawaen (徳澤園) · 1,560m · 0 min from the startTokusawaen 1,560mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi 1,500m Elevation profile of Karasawa from Kamikochi. Horizontal axis is cumulative walking time, vertical axis is elevation.1,5002,0002,500mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochiTokusawaen (徳澤園) · 1,560m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)TokusawaenYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Yokoo SansoKarasawa Hutte (涸沢ヒュッテ) · Elevation not confirmed · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa Hutte Not confirmedKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa-goyaYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the startYokoo SansoTokusawaen (徳澤園) · 1,560m · 0 min from the startTokusawaenKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi

High point 2,350m ／ Total ascent approx. 850m ／ 850m of climbing from Kamikochi (1,500m)

Hut (tap for details) Trailhead Point passed Elevation not confirmed

The horizontal axis is the order of the route, not time: we have not confirmed this route's leg times against an official source. The ridge line simply joins the recorded points, so it does not show the real shape of the terrain. Total ascent is an approximation summed between those points. Karasawa Hutte have no confirmed elevation, so they are placed provisionally between the points either side.

Karasawa cirque in autumn
Karasawa cirque in autumn Photo: Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）
Karasawa cirque and the Hotaka peaks
Karasawa cirque and the Hotaka peaks Photo: Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）
Shows whether each hut is open that day

Stop by stop

Section times split the prefecture's official total course time across sections by path length, climb and descent.

  1. 1,500m

    Kamikochi (上高地)Trailhead

    Closed to private cars all year. Bus or taxi from Sawando or Hirayu.

    About this trailhead
  2. approx. 1h55 up 101m down 86m

  3. 1,560mtopo map

    Tokusawaen (徳澤園)Lodge

    25 Apr – 3 Nov Secondary source (as of 2026-09-13)

    Dinner + breakfast ¥17,600+ No meals ¥11,000 Tent ¥2,000

    • QR payment
    • Bath

    Booking opensTaking bookings for the whole season now, by phone only

    Book on the official site Call 0263-95-2508 Details and access Add to my plan
  4. approx. 1h05 up 84m down 30m

  5. 1,620m

    Yokoo Sanso (横尾山荘)Mountain hut

    27 Apr – 3 Nov Closed for repairs 1-30 June Confirmed on the official site (2026-09-13)

    Dinner + breakfast ¥15,600 No meals ¥11,000 Tent ¥2,000

    • Charging available
    • Cards accepted
    • Bath

    Booking opensOne month before your stay, 07:00 JST, by phone. For 1 July - 25 Oct a limited number opens two months ahead via Yamatan.

    Book on the official site Call 0263-95-2421 Details and access Add to my plan
  6. approx. 2h45 up 712m down 37m

  7. Elevation not confirmed

    Karasawa Hutte (涸沢ヒュッテ)Mountain hut / Karasawa Hutte

    27 Apr – 3 Nov Closed for refurbishment 11-31 May Confirmed on the official site (2026-09-13)

    Dinner + breakfast ¥16,000 No meals ¥11,000 Tent ¥2,000

    • Toilet ¥100
    • Water: Free

    Booking opensOne month before your stay (same date), 08:00 JST

    Book on the official site Call 090-9002-2534 Details and access Add to my plan
  8. — Height change not confirmed

  9. 2,350m

    Karasawa-goya (涸沢小屋)Mountain hut

    27 Apr – 3 Nov Confirmed on the official site (2026-09-13)

    Dinner + breakfast ¥16,000 No meals ¥9,800

    • Toilet: Composting

    Booking opensOne month before your stay (same date). Stays up to 25 May open on 25 April.

    Book on the official site Call 090-2204-1300 Details and access Add to my plan
  10. approx. 2h35 up 25m down 703m

  11. 1,620m

    Yokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) again on the way back ↑ details

  12. approx. 1h up 25m down 75m

  13. 1,560m

    Tokusawaen (徳澤園) again on the way back ↑ details

  14. approx. 1h55 up 79m down 95m

  15. 1,500m

    Kamikochi (上高地)Trailhead

    Closed to private cars all year. Bus or taxi from Sawando or Hirayu.

    About this trailhead