Mount Hotaka

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Mount Hotaka 穂高岳
Hotaka Mountains from Takayama (November 2007)
Elevation	3,190 m
Location	Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan
Range	Hida Mountains
Coordinates	36°17′21″N, 137°38′53″E
Type	Pyramidal peak
Translation	Mount Hotaka (Japanese)
Pronunciation	[Hotaka-dake]

Mt. Okuhotaka which is the highest peak of the Hotaka Mountain Range (November 2007)

Hotaka Mountains from the panorama course Byōbu-no-mimi (October 2000)

Mt. Hotaka (June 2002)

Mt. Myōjin from Kamikōchi (October 2005)

Mt. Kitahotaka from Karasawa glacier (May 2003)

Mount Hotaka (穂高岳, Hotaka-dake^?), also known as Mount Hotakadaka, is one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, reaching 3,190 m (10,466 ft) at the highest peak. It is situated in the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps) of Japan and all its major peaks, apart from Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. The peaks of Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka together form the Hotaka Mountain Range. In this range, the highest peak is Mount Okuhotaka; which is also the tallest mountain in Nagano Prefecture (formerly Shinano Province) and Gifu Prefecture (formerly Hida Province). Mount Hotaka is also called the "Leader of the Northern Alps" (北アルプスの盟主, Kitaarupusu no Meishu^?).

To the north beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto, the ridge continues via Mount Minami (南岳, Minamidake^?), Mount Ōbami (大喰岳, Ōbamidake^?) to Mount Yari at its end. In the south, a ridge stretches from Mount Okuhotaka via Mount Nishihotaka all the way to Mount Yake. The Tsuri Ridge runs from Mount Okuhotaka to Mount Maehotaka from where a path leads down through a cirque to the bridge Kappabashi in Kamikōchi. Climbing down on the Gifu side, either from the Hotaka Mountain Cottage (穂高岳山荘, Hotakadake Sansō^?) through Shiradezawa (白出沢, shiradezawa^?) or taking the Shinhotaka Ropeway from next to Nishihotakadake, the road and Shinhodaka Onsen (新穂高温泉, shinhodakaonsen^?) can be reached in the valley below.

The mountain climbing base Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Mount Okuhotaka, Mount Maehotaka and the Tsuri Ridge connecting the two. Being on the north side of the mountains, even in summer some snow remains.

1 Peaks
2 Hiking routes
3 Mountain huts
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Peaks

Mount Okuhotaka (奥穂高岳, Okuhotaka-dake^?): This is the highest peak in the Hotaka Mountain Range and the third in Japan after Mount Fuji and Mount Kita. Its peak at 3,190 m (10,466 ft) is the highest in Nagano and Gifu prefectures.
Mount Karasawa (涸沢岳, Karasawa-dake^?): It is situated on a ridge between Mount Kitahotaka and the Shirade Col (白出のコル, Shirade Col^?), the location of the Hotakadake mountain cottage. The triangulation point on the top is at 3,103 m (10,180 ft) while the peak reaches 3,110 m (10,203 ft) at its highest point.
Mount Kitahotaka (北穂高岳, Kitahotaka-dake^?): At 3,106 m (10,190 ft) this is the second of the Hotaka Peaks next to Mount Okuhotaka. It lies at the northern end of the Hotaka Mountain Range. This is a prominent rocky area of Japan, Takidani (滝谷, Takidani^?) on the mountain's west face being well-known. Not far from the summit lies the Kitahotaka Hut.
Mount Maehotaka (前穂高岳, Maehotakadake^?): This peak at 3,090 m (10,138 ft) is connected to Mount Okuhotaka via the Tsuri Ridge (吊り尾根, Tsuri-one^?). To the north stretches the Kita Ridge (北尾根, Kita-one^?) while there are rocks to the west in direction of Okumatashiro (奥又白, Okumatashiro^?). The tip of the Kita Ridge is called "Byōbu no Atama" (屏風の頭, Folding Screen Head^?). On the northeastern face lies a sheer cliff of 1,000 m (3,281 ft).
Mount Myōjin (明神岳, Myōjin-dake^?): The peak at 2,931 m (9,616 ft) lies on a mountain ridge stretching south from Mount Maehotaka and offers many climbing routes.
Mount Nishihotaka (西穂高岳, Nishihotaka-dake^?): The peak at 2,909 m (9,544 ft) lies on a mountain ridge running southwest from Mount Okuhotaka, just before the ridge thins out. It is surrounded by many similar rocky peaks which make a discrimination at first glance difficult.
Mount Aino (間ノ岳, Aino-dake^?): This peak at 2907m lies on a ridge between Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Nishihotaka.
Gamadafuji (蒲田富士, Gamadafuji^?): This is the western peak of Karasawadake, rising 2,742 m (8,996 ft). The winter ascend route for Mount Okuhotaka passes here.

[edit] Hiking routes

Even though the Hotaka Mountains are often climbed during times of lingering snow, like Golden Week, the following routes are strictly for snow-free periods. When there is snow fall, the area becomes extremely dangerous. Since routes may become impassable, special care is required.

[edit] Beginner

Mount Okuhotaka

Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin (明神池 Myōjin-ike^?) ― Tokusawa (徳沢^?) ― Yokoo (横尾^?) ― Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka

Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Panorama course (Byōbunoatama) ― Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka

Mount Kitahotaka

Kamikōchi ― Lake Myōjin ― Tokusawa ― Yokoo ― Karasawa ― Mount Kitahotaka

Nishihodoku (西穂独標, Nishihodoku^?)

Shinhodaka Onsen ― Shinhotaka Ropeway ― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― Maruyama (丸山^?) ― Nishihodoku

Kamikōchi ― Naka Ridge (中尾根 Nakaone^?) ― Nishiho Mountain Cottage ― Maruyama ― Nishihodoku

[edit] Intermediate

Mount Maehotaka - Mount Okuhotaka

Kamikōchi ― Dakesawa Mountain Hut ― Kimikodaira (紀美子平^?) ― Mount Maehotaka ― Mount Okuhotaka

The ascent from the Dakesawa Hut to Kimikodaira, (Jūtarō New Road (重太郎新道, Jūtarō Shindō^?), is the steepest ascent in the Japanese Alps. As there is no water on that way, if climbing both mountains, Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Maehotaka, the ascend route via Karasawa is more popular.

[edit] Advanced

Yarihotaka traverse route

Mount Yari― Mount Ōbami (大喰岳 Ōbami-dake^?) ― Mount Naka (中岳 Naka-dake^?) ― Mount Minami (南岳 Minami-dake^?) ― Daikiretto (大キレット^?) ― Mount Kitahotaka ― Mount Karasawa ― Mount Okuhotaka ― Gendarme (ジャンダルム jandarumu^?) ― Mount Aino ― Mount Nishihotaka ― Nishihodoku