Hakuba Fastpacking Trip

The Hakuba Traverse is a full north-to-south fastpacking run along one of Japan's most celebrated alpine ridgelines, compressed into two big days.

Starting before dawn from Sarukura on Saturday, the route climbs 1,500m to join the main ridgeline at Maruyama before tracking south through Tengusanso and finishing the night at Goryusanso. Day two begins at 3:45am for sunrise from Goryudake, then continues the full length of the ridge, past Kashimayarigatake, across the Hachimine Kiretto, and down to Ogizawa by early afternoon.

The route covers 43km with 5,500m of ascent across the two days. It includes two of Japan's famous knife-edge ridge sections, exposed scrambling with chains and ladders, and sustained technical terrain throughout. This is a serious mountain undertaking and is suited to those with alpine experience, solid fitness, and comfort on exposed, rocky ground.

We stay overnight at Goryusanso and move as a group, but this is not a guided trip, all participants are responsible for their own safety and decision-making on the mountain.