2 nights / 3 days / approx. 39.0 km / High point 3,190m
Karasawa Base: the Hotaka circuit
Kamikochi → Okuhotakadake → Kamikochi
Walk in from Kamikochi to the Karasawa cirque, round Kita-Hotaka and Oku-Hotaka, then back down to Kamikochi.
How hard is it?
Strenuous.
Sustained rock
Stamina 7 / 10Walking approx. 20h10
“2 nights or more is advisable”
Technical D
Hands-on scrambling; many places where a fall is possible
- Typical
- 2 nights / 3 days
- Walking time
- approx. 20h10estimated from distance, climb and descent; no breaks
- Distance
- approx. 39.0 km
- Total climb
- approx. 2,340m high point Okuhotakadake 3,190m
Stamina and technical grades: Nagano Prefecture mountain grading, No.17 (our translation). Figures are for a similar route. 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
- Sawando or Hirayu 沢渡・平湯
- Bus
- Kamikochi 1,500m / Restricted (park and change)
- 2 nights / 3 days, out and back
- 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): 6 of 6 huts
- Tokusawaen 25 Apr – 3 Nov
- Yokoo Sanso 27 Apr – 3 Nov
- Karasawa Hutte 27 Apr – 3 Nov
- Karasawa-goya 27 Apr – 3 Nov
- Kitahotaka-goya 28 Apr – 3 Nov
- Hotakadake Sanso 27 Apr – 3 Nov
2026 season dates, from each hut's official site and Nagano Prefecture's hut list (sources on each hut page).
When does booking open?
6 huts to stay at. Book with each hut (HutsGo takes no bookings).
- Tokusawaen Taking bookings for the whole season no… / unofficial
- Yokoo Sanso One month before your stay, 07:00 JST, …
- Karasawa Hutte One month before your stay (same date),…
- Karasawa-goya One month before your stay (same date).…
- Kitahotaka-goya One month before your stay (same date, …
- Hotakadake Sanso One month before your stay, 08:00 JST, online
Map and elevation
Times are estimates from distance and climb (no breaks)
The line follows the GSI map footpaths. Trust the signposts on the day. Save GPX
High point 3,190m ／ Total ascent approx. 1,800m ／ 1,690m 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.
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Stop by stop
Section times are estimates from the path length, climb and descent (a formula fitted to Nagano Prefecture's grading table; typically within about 10%).
-
1,500m
Kamikochi (上高地)Trailhead
Closed to private cars all year. Bus or taxi from Sawando or Hirayu.
- approx. 2h10 up 101m down 86m
-
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
- approx. 1h10 up 84m down 30m
-
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.
- approx. 3h10 up 712m down 37m
-
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
- — Height change not confirmed
-
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.
- approx. 2h30 up 805m down 84m
-
3,100m
Kitahotaka-goya (北穂高小屋)Mountain hut
28 Apr – 3 Nov Campsite opens from mid June Confirmed on the official site (2026-09-13)
Dinner + breakfast ¥15,500 No meals ¥11,000 Tent ¥2,000
- Water: Free
Booking opensOne month before your stay (same date, previous month), 07:00 JST
- approx. 1h50 up 303m down 330m via Kitahotakadake 3,106mvia Karasawa cirque Elevation not confirmed
-
2,996m
Hotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘)Mountain hut
27 Apr – 3 Nov Confirmed on the official site (2026-09-13)
Dinner + breakfast ¥15,500 No meals ¥11,000 Tent ¥2,000
- Toilet: Flush
- Water: Free
- Cards accepted
Booking opensOne month before your stay, 08:00 JST, online
- approx. 3h05 up 207m down 908m via Okuhotakadake 3,190m
-
2,350m
Karasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) again on the way back ↑ details
- approx. 2h55 up 25m down 703m
-
1,620m
Yokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) again on the way back ↑ details
- approx. 1h10 up 25m down 75m
-
1,560m
Tokusawaen (徳澤園) again on the way back ↑ details
- approx. 2h10 up 79m down 95m
-
1,500m
Kamikochi (上高地)Trailhead
Closed to private cars all year. Bus or taxi from Sawando or Hirayu.