Mt. Yarigatake climbing record

For this climb 　Exertion Level：★★★★☆ 　Difficulty Level：★★☆☆☆ 　Scenic Level：★★★★★

For this climb
Exertion Level：★★★★☆
Difficulty Level：★★☆☆☆
Scenic Level：★★★★★

This Mountain's Information

□ Altitude：3,180m
□ Location：Taira Omachi, Nagano Prefecture (Click to view larger map)

Schedule

□ Duration：2 days and 1 night
□ Term of Climbing：10.24.2015 ～ 10.25.2015
□ Date at Summit： 10.24.2015

Weather

□ Weather：Sunny
□ Highest Temperature：17.0°C
□ Lowest Temperature：3.0°C

Climbing Course

□ Distance：38.5km
□ Cumulative Elevation：1,600m
□ Course：From Kamikochi via Yokoo lodge
□ Further Information：Time Schedule

（Go）5:30 Sawando parking lot → 6:30 Kamikochi → 9:30 Yokoo lodge → 14:00 Yarigatake lodge → 15:30 Summit → Stayed at the Yarigatake lodge

（Back）5:00 Got up → 6:00 Started going down → 7:54 Yarisawa lodge → 09:00 Yokoo lodge → 11:00 Kamikochi

Approach to Starting Point

□ Transportation：Car
□ Time to Starting Point：About four and a half hours by car
□ Further Information：I had a car-stay at Sawando parking lot before the climb. In the morning, if you see someone waiting for a bus to get to Kamikochi, I recommend you ask them to use a taxi. It can be cheaper if you chip in together and it should be faster than using a bus.

Location

The Map of Climbing Course

Altitude × Temperature

Download GPS Data

No Data for this climb

My Impressions

I think the most famous mountain in the Northern Alps is Mt.Yarigatake. It has really breathtaking views from the summit. A lot of climbers of Japan dream to climb it one day. It has a long course, so I suppose this climb usually take around three days. In spite of the bad access, there are many climbers in summer. As for the winter, few climbers dare to climb it. It is very danderous and almost every year someone dies in their attempt to climb it.
It is impossible to be alone at the top of the mountain because the place is narrow and usually very crowded. Because of that, sometimes we have to wait for an hour to climb the summit. However the climb took less than 3 days, the weather was getting colder and there were less people than usual.
I wanted to put up my tent near the summit but I couldn’t because of the strong wind and the cold weather. My body didn’t adjust to the cold temmperature yet.
I'm sure people who climbed this mountain loved it. If you are planning to climb mountains in Japan, Mt. Yarigatake would be a good choice. I strongly recommend it. This trip gave us an indescribable sence of achievement. Standing on the summit, after a long climb will give you an addictive boost of pride and confidence in your own ability.

Video Gallery

Video Collection on VIMEO

Photo Gallery

I took the route which start from Kamikochi. Although, it has a long approach, I think it is the easest route for his climb. As you can see the altitude map, I just went up 250m for initial walking of 14km.

Here is the Yokoo lodge. Among the some of them, the emergency lodge for winter was rebuilding. That place often appear in climbing novels.

We call that cliff Byobu-Iwa(Iwa means rock in Japanese). This is the most famous place for rock-climbing in Japan like Yosemite in America, and climbers who have sophisticated skills of rock climbing can climb. That wouldn't be my target, forever.

Finally, my climb got started after walking along stream for 14km.

Here's a flag. It means I haven't got lost, yet.

The path connected to the summit was not clear. But, it didn't matter because I could see my target on the right hand side of peak, so I knew where I should go toward.

Someday I'll walk that ridge-line it called Dai-kiretto. I can't explane the meaning of name, that sounds 'big scale of ridge-line' or 'dangerous ridge-line'. In Japan, there are three famous ridge-lines which has a big scale and dangours, and that is one of them.

When I reached the ridge line, I found I lost my route toward the summit. I should go round the left side of that peak. I thought the approach which go straight to the summit was so dangerous, so I decided go back and climb again.

I almost get to the summit.

These mountains are the Northern Alps. I have to walk all of them to clear 100 Famous Mountains in Japan.

Good job!!! This experience will boost my enthusiasm for my climb from now on. (Here are some coins, but you shouldn't take them, OK?)

That is the Kitakama ridge line. A few dozen years ago, the mountaneer, Buntaro Kato, died at that ridge line in January with his colleague. I found how difficult it is to across in mid winter.

This is the sign of the summit.

If I had a enough time, I'd go around the Dai-Kiretto. That's a shame!

Here is the opposite side with the path I walked. Because of a danger of snow-slide, it is usual to use that route in mid winter. It is also never safe though. To be safe in winter, all we can do is pray.