WHAT/WHY

Northern Alps: Tateyama and Tsurugidake peaks in the Tateyama/Kurobe Alpine route, Toyama Prefecture. Serious hiking/climbing, work off some of that fat. Chat to gods about that next visa...

DO

Climb Mt Takeyama (Japan`s 3rd highest /most sacred peak at 3015m - represents Heaven) & Mt Tsurugidake (4th highest peak - said to represent Hell because of jagged peak.) Tsurugidake is a challenging hike/climb, the final part requires chains, see cover. NOT for faint of heart - occasional fatalities.

MOVE

Overnight buses from Tokyo (¥13000 1/way) and Osaka/Kyoto to main alpine terminal/hotel facility at Murodo (Alpico Group: alpico.co.jp, Osaka 0663 462200) You can`t drive your own car in to Murodo.
Once There: On foot, bus, or drag yourself up chains.

SLEEP

Hotel Tateyama (0764-653333) Rms from ¥19,000. Within 20min hike of Murodo are 5 hotels/ lodges (bases for most hikes) all with onsen from ¥8190 with bed/breakfast (Mikuri-ga-ike Onsen 0764- 65-3303, Raicho-so 0764-65-5777). Or camp:¥500/ person, take own tent, in specta-cular scenery. There are also sparten lodges high in the mountains for those on 2 day hikes up the peaks. Shared rooms, 6am start. Kenzanso (0764-82-1564) is at foot of Tsurugidake, it has an onsen - ¥8400/person.

WHO/NOT

Lots of kids around Tateyama, but on Tsurugidake, mostly old people - very few noisy gaijin/youngsters so GREAT for gaijin wanting to get away from it all.

WHEN

May/June or Sept/Oct. Some facilities shut end Sept, but you avoid the crowds of July/Aug.

TIME

Doing both Tateyama and Tsurugidake peaks is a 2 day hike.

Traveller: Greg Sullivan.
Photos: Geg Sullivan.
Written by: Staff.



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