Kamikochi to Karasawa (Karasawa Cirque), Matsumoto – Chubusangaku National Park, Northern Alps, Japan

Full route: www.welshmanwalking.co.uk/karasawa-cirque

Kamikōchi to Karasawa is a Japanese Alps hikes that deserves a place on any “best walks in Japan” list. Starting beside the crystal-clear Azusa River at around 1,500 metres, the route leads deep into Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, first through the beautiful and relatively gentle Kamikōchi valley before eventually climbing into the spectacular Karasawa Cirque beneath the Hotaka mountains.

The contrast is what makes this walk so good. For the first 10 km or so you follow rivers, forest paths and bridges through places such as Tokusawa and Yokoo, surrounded by mountains but without doing a huge amount of climbing. Cross Yokoo Bridge, however, and the character changes. The trail becomes rougher and steeper as you gain height towards Karasawa, eventually emerging into an enormous glacial cirque surrounded by some of the highest and most dramatic mountains in Japan.

My GPX covers approximately 30.4 km there and back, with around 1,410 metres of cumulative ascent, so despite the straightforward opening kilometres this is a substantial mountain journey. In normal snow-free summer and autumn conditions the standard route to Karasawa isn't technical and doesn't require climbing equipment, but the distance, ascent, mountain weather and rougher terrain beyond Yokoo still demand proper preparation.

Most walkers make it a two-day adventure, spending the night at Karasawa Hütte, Karasawa Goya or the designated campsite before returning to Kamikōchi the following day. And if you can time it for the autumn colours, the combination of red and gold slopes, hundreds of colourful tents and the huge Hotaka peaks above Karasawa creates one of the most extraordinary mountain scenes in Japan.

Distance: 30.38 km from your GPX
Route: Kamikōchi → Tokusawa → Yokoo → Karasawa → return
Route type: Out-and-back
Start/Finish: Kamikōchi Bus Terminal – approx. 1,510m
Highest point: Karasawa – approx. 2,304m
Height difference: Approx. 790–800m
Cumulative ascent: Approx. 1,410m
Cumulative descent: Approx. 1,410m
Walking time: Approx. 11–12 hours total
Recommended duration: 2 days / 1 night
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard / Challenging
Terrain: Valley paths, woodland, bridges, mountain trail, rocks and boulders
Technical difficulty: Non-technical in normal snow-free conditions
Best walking period: Generally summer to autumn; conditions must be checked