Set in the heart of the mountainous Nagano Prefecture, the Kamikochi region hosts numerous hiking spots for lovers of fresh air and photogenic panoramas. Today, I take you on a walk through Chūbu-Sangaku National Park to discover the Karasawa Cirque (溇氢カール).
The Karasawa Cirque, at the heart of the Japanese Alps
What’s a cirque? Nothing to do with the circus ring! In geography, the term “cirque” is used for a circular-shaped valley with steep walls formed by glacial erosion.
The Karasawa Cirque is set at 2,300 metres of altitude. It’s known for being one of the best hiking spots to admire the dazzling colours of autumn foliage (koyo).
Nestled at the heart of the Japanese Alps, Karasawa is one of the largest glacial cirques in Japan. Surrounded by high peaks (Maehotaka, Okuhotaka, Kitahotaka), in autumn it offers colourful panoramas with snow-capped peaks as the backdrop.
It’s also one of the first places where you can observe the arrival of autumn. With the altitude, by mid-September, leaves take on brown, orange, and red shades.
A hike on a typhoon day… mixed feelings
Beyond its photogenic autumn landscape, the Karasawa Cirque is also a base for climbing the peaks of Mount Hotaka (hikes reserved for experienced climbers).
Access to the Karasawa Cirque is fairly easy, even for beginners.
From the Kamikochi bus station (1,504 m), the 30 km round-trip hike is done over 2 days with an 800 m elevation gain. Nothing insurmountable then… unless you, like me, land a typhoon day!
At first, a good part of the hike is through the forest, a stretch I found rather long and tedious. But once you tackle the mountain trail, the landscapes that unfold become much more interesting (photos to back it up!).
Once you reach the Karasawa Cirque, you can spend the night on site either in a tent or in one of the two lodges (Karasawa Hut 溇氢ヒュッテ, Karasawa goya 溇氢小屋). These refuges also serve food.
Savour a hot bowl of oden or ramen facing this 360° view of the surrounding mountains before heading back down by the same path.
Also in the Japanese Alps: Narai, at the heart of the Nakasendo, and for another autumn at altitude, Mount Shirane and its small koyo.
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