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Japan › Northern Japan Alps

2 nights / 3 days / approx. 36.4 km / High point 3,190m

Okuhotakadake via Karasawa

Kamikochi → Okuhotakadake → Kamikochi

From Kamikochi via Yokoo and Karasawa, up the Zaitengrat to Hotakadake Sanso, then out and back to the Okuhotakadake summit.

How hard is it?

Strenuous.
Ladders and chains

Stamina 7 / 10Walking 17h42

“2 nights or more is advisable”

Technical C

Ladders and chains; a slip can mean a fall

Typical
2 nights / 3 days
Walking time
17h42walking only, no breaks
Distance
approx. 36.4 km
Total climb
approx. 2,080m high point Okuhotakadake 3,190m

Stamina and technical grades: Nagano Prefecture mountain grading, No.4 (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. Kamikochi 1,500m / Restricted (park and change)
  3. 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): 3 of 3 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?

3 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 Okuhotakadake via Karasawa. Horizontal axis is cumulative walking time, vertical axis is elevation.1,5002,0002,5003,000mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi 1,500mYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Yokoo Sanso 1,620mKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa-goya 2,350mHotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘) · 2,996m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Hotakadake Sanso 2,996mOkuhotakadake (奥穂高岳) · 3,190m · 0 min from the start · Point passedOkuhotakadake 3,190mHotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘) · 2,996m · 0 min from the startHotakadake Sanso 2,996mKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the startKarasawa-goya 2,350mYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the startYokoo Sanso 1,620mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi 1,500m Elevation profile of Okuhotakadake via Karasawa. Horizontal axis is cumulative walking time, vertical axis is elevation.1,5002,0002,5003,000mKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochiYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Yokoo SansoKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Karasawa-goyaHotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘) · 2,996m · 0 min from the start · Hut (tap for details)Hotakadake SansoOkuhotakadake (奥穂高岳) · 3,190m · 0 min from the start · Point passedOkuhotakadakeHotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘) · 2,996m · 0 min from the startHotakadake SansoKarasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) · 2,350m · 0 min from the startKarasawa-goyaYokoo Sanso (横尾山荘) · 1,620m · 0 min from the startYokoo SansoKamikochi (上高地) · 1,500m · 0 min from the start · TrailheadKamikochi

High point 3,190m / Total ascent approx. 1,690m / 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.

Okuhotakadake from Karasawadake
Okuhotakadake from Karasawadake Photo: Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0(Wikimedia Commons)
Karasawa cirque in autumn
Karasawa cirque in autumn 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.

  2. approx. 3h05 up 123m down 56m
  3. 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.

  4. approx. 3h15 up 712m down 37m
  5. 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.

  6. approx. 2h15 up 720m down 24m
  7. 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

  8. approx. 1h10 up 196m down 199m via Okuhotakadake 3,190m
  9. 2,996m

    Hotakadake Sanso (穂高岳山荘) again on the way back ↑ details

  10. approx. 2h up 22m down 720m
  11. 2,350m

    Karasawa-goya (涸沢小屋) again on the way back ↑ details

  12. approx. 3h up 25m down 703m
  13. 1,620m

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

  14. approx. 3h up 49m down 121m
  15. 1,500m

    Kamikochi (上高地)Trailhead

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