Mount Hotaka, also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains as coined by the media, reaching a height of. Mount Hotaka is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains and all its major peaks except Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. This mountain is located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. The peaks of Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka are called the Hotaka Mountains. The highest peak in this range, and also the tallest mountain in both Nagano and Gifu prefectures, is Mount Okuhotaka. Mount Hotaka is also referred to as the "Leader of the Northern Alps".
Peaks
Mount Okuhotaka is the highest peak in the Hotaka Mountain Range and the third highest in Japan after Mount Fuji and Mount Kita. Its peak at is the highest in Nagano and Gifu prefectures.
Mount Karasawa is situated on a ridge between Mount Kitahotaka and the Shirade mountain pass, the location of the Hotakadake mountain cottage. The triangulation point on the top is at while the peak reaches.
Mount Kitahotaka, at, is the second highest of the Hotaka peaks, lying at the northern end of the range. Takidani, on the mountain's west face, is a well-known, prominent, rocky area of Japan. Near the summit lies the Kitahotaka Hut.
Mount Maehotaka is high and is connected to Mount Okuhotaka via the Tsuri Ridge. To the north stretches the Kita Ridge. To the west are rocks in direction of Okumatashiro. The tip of the Kita Ridge is called "Byōbu no Atama". On the northeastern face lies a sheer cliff of.
Mount Nishihotaka, at, lies on a mountain ridge running southwest from Mount Okuhotaka, near the end of the ridge. It is surrounded by many similarly rocky peaks which makes it difficult to discriminate visually.
Mount Aino, with a peak at, lies on a ridge between Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Nishihotaka.
Gamadafuji is the western peak of Karasawadake, rising. The winter ascend route to Mount Okuhotaka passes here.
1893 - Kiyohiko Tate climbed Mount Maehotaka, then Walter Weston climbed Mount Maehotaka. Walter Weston published Mountaineering and Exploring in the Japanese Alps and introduced Japanese mountains to the world.
1906 - Gunji Abe climbed Mount Okuhotaka at first.
1912 - Walter Weston climbed Mount Okuhotaka.
December 4, 1934 - The region in this mountain was specified for the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.
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 snow has fallen, the area becomes extremely dangerous. Routes may become impassable, so special care is required. The mountain climbing base at Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Mount Okuhotaka, Mount Maehotaka and the Tsuri Ridge connecting the two. Because it lies on the northern side of the mountains, snow remains throughout the year. To the north, beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto, the ridge continues across Mount Minami, Mount Ōbami, ending at Mount Yari. In the south, a ridge stretches from Mount Okuhotaka via Mount Nishihotaka 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 through Shiradezawa or taking the Shinhotaka Ropeway from next to Nishihotaka-dake, the road and Shinhodaka Onsen can be reached in the valley below.
Beginner
Mount Okuhotaka
Mount Kitahotaka
Nishihodoku
Intermediate
Mount Maehotaka - Mount Okuhotaka
The ascent from the Dakesawa Hut to Kimikodaira, is the steepest in the Japanese Alps. There is no water on this ascent, and if climbing both mountains, the route to Mount Okuhotaka and Mount Maehotaka via Karasawa is more popular.
Advanced
Yarihotaka traverse route
Mountain huts
There are various alpine huts in the Mount Hotaka area:
