🏔️Mt. Kisokoma 🇯🇵 Autumn Ridge Traverse in Japan’s Central Alps
Hello (Konnichiwa),
and welcome back to the Creative Nomad channel. Today, we’re traversing the autumn ridgeline of Mt. Kisokoma — a sacred peak in the Central Japanese Alps,
glowing in shades of red and gold. As we walk through this sea of colors, the air grows thin,
and the silence of the highlands reminds us how fleeting beauty can be. Please turn on subtitles in your language,
and support us by liking and subscribing. 🙏 Kiso-Fukushima —
once a post town along the historic Nakasendō route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. At the local festival museum,
traditions like the Kiso dance and festival floats are still celebrated today. The town’s streets follow the shape of the river valley,
creating a unique landscape. Here begins the upper stream of the Kiso River. Its waters are so clear they sparkle like gemstones. We cross the Gyōninbashi footbridge —
once used by monks and travelers on their pilgrimages through Kiso. We walk along the old Nakasendō shopping street. Here stands the Kiso-Fukushima Sekisho Museum. This checkpoint was one of Japan’s four major gateways during the Edo period. It once controlled the movement of travelers with strict inspection. Tomorrow’s plan: to traverse from the Kogara Trailhead, across Mt. Kisokoma, and onward to Mt. Chausu. At 4:30 a.m., we begin our climb in the darkness before dawn. My climbing mentor, the owner of “Curry Miyoshi.” With bright headlamps, we quietly move through the still forest. The plan is to loop through Mt. Chausu and descend via the Sawado route. By 5:30, the sky begins to brighten, revealing the texture of trees and ridges around us. We have twelve hours to return — every minute counts. The higher we climb, the more the untouched forest reveals its natural beauty. Gradually, autumn colors spread across the slopes. At the 7th station hut, we rest —
a small refuge protected by both locals and mountaineers. As we go higher, the colors deepen —
the mountains are now wrapped in gold and crimson. The summit of Mt. Kisokoma still lies far ahead. It feels as though we’re walking through a painting. We can see the ridgeline of Mt. Chausu.
Today, we’ll traverse all the way there. Golden light fills the valley, painting everything in the colors of fall. We pass through tunnels of red and yellow leaves. From here, we’re high enough to look down on the Central Alps below. Vast cliffs covered in autumn foliage spread out before us. The red and green hues blend into a living piece of art. In the distance rises the Hotaka Range of the Northern Alps,
glowing under the clear autumn sky. We leave the forest behind and enter a world of rocks and alpine plants. The slopes glow with colors so vivid they seem unreal. The trail steepens, but the beauty of the leaves keeps us moving forward. The summit of Mt. Kisokoma still feels distant. The gradient of colors created by diverse plants stretches across the mountain face. As we ascend, trees become smaller and rocks begin to dominate the landscape. At the ninth station, the view opens —
it feels like entering another world. We pass the Tama-no-Kubo hut and head toward the massive rock formations ahead. In this harsh terrain stands a memorial to climbers who lost their lives —
watched over by a statue of Shimmei Gyōja, a mountain monk. He seems to watch over all who climb, offering silent strength to those who pass. Near the top, the world becomes only rock and sky. Mt. Hōken’s jagged and majestic face dominates the view. From the summit of Mt. Kisokoma,
a breathtaking panorama of the Central Alps unfolds. Many visitors arrive here by ropeway —
the mountain top is alive with people. The distant Northern Alps rest quietly on the horizon. To the west stands Mt. Ontake —
an independent and majestic volcano. A long line of hikers waits for their turn at the summit marker. Here lives the “Raichō,” or thunder bird —
a national treasure and symbol of the mountain gods. At the Kisokoma Shrine,
we pray for safe passage and give thanks for the journey. Far beyond the Southern Alps, Mt. Fuji peeks above the clouds. Mt. Hōken’s rugged cliffs shine in the sunlight —
both beautiful and intimidating. From here, we trace the ridgeline —
the “ridge walk” — toward the next peak. The rock face around the summit looks almost extraterrestrial. On the sunlit southern slope, the autumn colors deepen —
Nōgaike Pond glows in orange hues. The green of Mt. Inamaedake contrasts sharply with the red foliage below. Even the alpine flower Chinguruma has turned a deep crimson. Beyond the red peaks,
the Southern Alps and the great Mt. Kaikoma rise proudly. At Mt. Shōgigashira,
a monument honors the 1913 mountain tragedy. We rest at the historic Ina Nishikoma Hut —
built in 1915, still offering warmth and supplies to travelers. Looking at photos from its construction,
we feel the strength and passion of the early mountaineers. At the summit of Mt. Shogikashira,
we look back at the mountain hut above. The landscape is changing once again. From Mt. Shōgigashira, we continue toward Gyōja Rock. The trail continues with more ups and downs. We reach Gyōja Rock —
a natural lookout surrounded by alpine plants and stone. At Mt. Chausu’s summit, we look back at the ridgeline we have crossed. Now begins the long descent — the final stretch of our traverse. The trail is rough and narrow; every step must be careful. At the final crossing, we wade through the stream before returning. If the water rises, this crossing becomes impassable —
always check conditions in advance. As the light fades, we finally make it back to the Kogara Trailhead. Traversing through mountains painted in autumn colors —
an unforgettable journey through the heart of Japan’s Central Alps.
Journey with us to the summit of Mt. Kisokoma (2,956 m), the highest peak of the Kiso Mountains in Japan’s Central Alps.
From vibrant autumn foliage to sweeping ridgelines above the clouds, this hike captures the true spirit of the mountains.
🌄 In this episode:
• A full-day traverse across golden ridges high above Nagano.
• The ascent, the summit moment, and a descent through calm light and sweeping views.
• Unique seasonal color, rare alpine atmosphere, and one of Japan’s most iconic mountain routes.
📍 Why Mt. Kisokoma?
Known for its dramatic views of the Northern and Southern Alps, relatively accessible via ropeway, and rich in alpine flora and sacred mountain history.
🕐Timeline：
0:00 Opening
0:24 Kiso-Fukushima Post Town
1:06 Old Nakasendō & Kiso-Fukushima Checkpoint
1:19 Traverse Plan from Kogara Trailhead
1:28 Start Climb at 4:30 a.m.
2:06 7th Station Mountain Hut
2:24 Walking the Autumn Ridge
4:07 Beyond the Forest – Rocks & Alpine Plants
4:22 Dreamlike Slopes of Autumn Colors
5:09 9th Station – Entering the High Alpine Zone
5:38 Statue of Shimmei Gyōja & Memorial Monuments
5:57 Approaching the Summit
6:09 Mt. Kisokoma Summit｜Panorama of the Central Alps
6:50 Mountain of the Sacred Raichō (Rock Ptarmigan)
7:01 Kisokoma Shrine & Distant View of Mt. Fuji
7:15 Ridge Walk Begins
7:25 Nōgaike Pond & Autumn Contrast
8:05 Ina Nishikoma Hut｜Stone Lodge Built in 1915
8:41 Uphill and Downhill Toward Gyōja Rock
8:59 Looking Back at Mt. Chausu Ridge
9:23 Rugged Descent & Final River Crossing
9:41 Back to the Trailhead
👟 Perfect for: hikers, nature photographers, mountain-lovers dreaming of Japan’s high ridges.
👦The friend of the mountaineering Master : Owner of “Curry Miyoshi”
• https://touhonseisou.com/2021/08/29/currymiyoshi/
• https://www.instagram.com/currymiyoshi/
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#MtKisokoma #JapaneseAlps #AutumnHike #JapanHiking #CentralAlps #MountainTraverse #AutumnLeaf