Into Blizzard | Winter hiking to Mt. Akadake in the Yatsugatake Mountains, Nagano

00:00 Opening
00:38 Day 1 / Minoto-guchi ⏩ Minoto ⏩ Gyoja Goya ⏩ Akadake Tembo-so
03:42 Day 2 / Akadake Tembo-so ⏩ The summit of Mt. Akadake ⏩ Gyoja Goya ⏩ Minoto ⏩ Minoto-guchi

The Yatsugatake Mountains, located on the border between Nagano and Yamanashi, feature several peaks approaching 3,000 meters in elevation. Yatsugatake is a popular hiking destination for local hikers, especially those living in the greater Tokyo region, thanks to its easy access by car and public transportation, well-maintained trails, and the Pacific Ocean coastal climate with the higher likelihood of fine weather during the winter season. For these reasons, it is often regarded as a stepping stone for intermediate-level winter hiking.

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The fine winter weather in the Yatsugatake region is influenced by the Pacific coastal climate, as the mountain ranges running through central Japan block clouds and moisture carried by the cold north winds from the Eurasian continent as they pass over the warm Sea of Japan. As a result, conditions can be extremely dry, cold, and windy even at elevations below 3,000 meters. Temperatures below –20°C and wind speeds exceeding 20 meters per second are not uncommon, so proper clothing and equipment are essential when attempting to climb the peaks.

You will also need crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, and a safety harness. Above all, however, we strongly recommend hiring a guide who is familiar with the area. In recent years, many hikers and backcountry skiers from overseas have been injured, gone missing, or even lost their lives due to attempting winter climbs in Japan without adequate preparation. Japan may not have the highest mountains like Nepal, but its snowfall is among the heaviest in the world for the reasons mentioned before. Please do not underestimate the Japanese wilderness, and make sure you are thoroughly prepared. And of course, enjoy hiking in Japan—safely and wholeheartedly.

🐾Visit our official website for the details:
https://www.tokyo-hiking.com