Yatsu-gatake

The Allure of Snowshoeing at Yatsu-gatake

The Yatsu-gatake mountain range stretches across 30 km from north to south and is divided into the Northern and Southern Yatsu-gatake mountains.

The Southern Yatsu-gatake mountains are relatively new peaks among the Yatsu-gatake mountains created from volcanic activity, so its steep rocky peaks are attractive to hikers, and in winter it becomes the playing field for full-scale winter mountain hiking. The Northern Yatsu-gatake mountains, on the other hand, were created from volcanic activity more than one million years ago, so erosion has progressed to the point that the peaks are now a series of gently sloping mountains. The mountains are covered in subalpine forests of Veitch’s silver fir and northern Japanese hemlock almost all the way up to the summit, and in seasons without snow, they are popular as moss forests.

In winter, snow eventually accumulates throughout the moss-covered forests, and they overflow with a bright, crisp atmosphere. You may find a variety of animal tracks dotting the snow, a valuable experience that will remind you of the existence of wild animals and that humans are not the only living creatures inhabiting the world. Another attraction of Yatsu-gatake in winter is the high probability of blue skies, which means you have a good chance of seeing the “Yatsu-gatake Blue” as the deep and vividly azure-colored sky is called. If you are lucky, you can snowshoe through pure, glistening white trees covered in hoarfrost against a background of “Yatsu-gatake Blue.”

Yatsu-gatake Snowshoe Tour

Beginner Course

Try snowshoeing and snowy mountain trekking with crampons!
Why not trek in the snowy mountains with snowshoes and crampons?
Snowshoe tour for beginners

Putting on snowshoes and walking on top of the fluffy snow is a fun experience. The feel of climbing with crampons and really grabbing onto the snow is a completely different and new experience compared to summer mountain hiking. The cold is harsh, which may make it difficult at times, but spending the day surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the winter mountains always infuses you with a certain power! You will walk with a certified mountain hiking guide who will safely show you how to enjoy nature and explain its attractions while providing a lecture on the basics of snowy mountains. Let’s forget about everyday life and experience the warm and bright world of snow together.

Basic Tour Introduction

Camp North Outdoor Support

• Hitoiki-so
• Fujimi Panorama Resort
• Utsukushigahara Kogen Hotel Yamamoto Goya
• Kurumayama Kogen Skypark Resort

Beginner course for experienced snowy mountain hikers

Recommended for those who want to climb snowy mountains and hike mountains in winter but are nervous because they are beginners!
A tour for snowy and winter mountain beginners with a basic lecture on snowy mountain hiking, including how to use crampons, etc.
The elevation of Yatsu-gatake’s Mt. Kitayoko-dake is 2,480 meters.

The summit lies beyond the tree line offering stunning views of Japan’s most renowned peaks, including Mt. Tateshina, one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains standing right before you, as well as the Southern Yatsu-gatake mountains, Southern Alps, Central Alps, and Northern Alps! The ropeway will take you straight up to an elevation of 2,200 meters, so the climbing elevation gain will only be 300 meters, a distance even beginning hikers can climb with relative ease. Along the way, you will receive a lecture on the basics of snowy mountains and hear about the natural environment of the Northern Yatsu-gatake mountains as you climb at a slow pace. You don’t have to worry about toilet breaks as Kitayoko-dake Hutte is located along the route. We will pitch portable tents or shelters for lunch. You will experience first-hand the importance of a portable tent, and it can also be used for summer hiking.

Specific Tour Introduction

• Camp North Outdoor Support
• Hitoiki-so

Yatsu-gatake area ski resorts

Kiyosato Kogen: Sun Meadows Kiyosato

Northern Yatsu-gatake: Yachiho Kogen Ski Resort

Shirakaba Kogen: Echo Valley Ski Resort

There are several ski resorts in the Yatsu-gatake area, which straddles the border between Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures. They do not have as many courses as the resorts in Hakuba, but they are very easily accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Each of the ski resorts can be reached in as little as two hours on the expressway from Tokyo. If you are only skiing for the weekend, you’ll want to prioritize easy access. These resorts are perfect for those who want to include both skiing and snowboarding among their activities.