Hotakadake
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穂高岳 | |
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Hotaka mountains and Azusagawa (梓川 azusagawa?) river from Kamikōchi (picture taken in October 2005). |
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Elevation | 3,190 m |
Location | Chūbu region, Honshū, Japan |
Range | Hida Mountains |
Coordinates | |
Type | Pyramidal peak |
Translation | Mount Hotaka (Japanese) |
Pronunciation | [Hotaka-dake] |
Hotakadake (穂高岳 hotaka-dake?) is one of Japan's 100 famous mountains reaching 3190m at the highest peak. It is situated in the Hida Mountains or Northern Alps of Japan and all its major peaks, apart from Maehotakadake, lie on the border of Matsumoto in Nagano and Takayama in Gifu. The peaks Okuhotakadake, Karasawadake, Kitahotakadake, Maehotakadake and Nishihotakadake together form the Hotaka mountain range. In this range the highest peak is Okuhotakadake, which is also the tallest mountain in Nagano (Shinano) and Gifu (Hida) Prefectures. Hotakadake is also called Leader of the Northern Alps (北アルプスの盟主 kitaarupusu-no-meishu?).
To the north beyond a steep descent and ascent at the Daikiretto the ridge continues via Minamidake (南岳 minamidake?), Ōbamidake (大喰岳 oobamidake?) to Mount Yari at its end. In the south a ridge stretches from Okuhotakadake via Nishihotakadake all the way to Yakidake. The Tsuri ridge runs from Okuhotakadake to Maehotakadake from where a path leads down through a cirque to the bridge Kappabashi in Kamikōchi. Climbing down on the Gifu side, either from Hotakadaka mountain cottage (穂高岳山荘 hotakadake-sansou?) through Shiradezawa (白出沢 shiradezawa?) or taking the ropeway from next to Nishihotakadake, the road and Shinhodaka Onsen (新穂高温泉 shinhodakaonsen?) can be reached in the valley below.
The mountain climbing base Karasawa lies in a U-shaped cirque dominated by Okuhotakadake, Maehotakadake and the Tsuri ridge connecting the two. Being on the north side of the mountains, even in summer some snow remains.
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[edit] Peaks in the Hotaka mountain range
- Okuhotakadake (奥穂高岳 okuhotaka-dake?)
- This is the highest peak in the Hotaka range and the third in Japan after Mount Fuji and Kitadake. Its peak at 3190m is the highest in Nagano and Gifu.
- Karasawadake (涸沢岳 karasawa-dake?)
- It is situated on a ridge between Kitahotakadake and the Shirade col (白出のコル?), the location of the Hotakadake mountain cottage. The triangulation point on the top is at 3103m while the peak reaches 3110m at its highest point.
- Kitahotakadake (北穂高岳 kitahotaka-dake?)
- At 3106m this is the second of the Hotaka-peaks next to Okuhotakadake. It lies at the northern end of the Hotaka mountain range. This is a prominent rocky area of Japan, Takidani (滝谷 takidani?) on the mountain's west face being well-known. Not far from the summit lies the Kitahotaka hut.
- Maehotakadake (前穂高岳 maehotakadake?)
- This peak at 3090m is connected to Okuhotakadake via the Tsuri ridge (吊り尾根 tsuri-one?). To the north stretches the Kita ridge (北尾根 kita-one?) while there are rocks to the west in direction of Okumatashiro (奥又白 okumatashiro?). The tip of the Kita ridge is called folding screen head (屏風の頭 byōbunoatama?). On the northeastern face lies a sheer cliff of 1000m.
- Myōjindake (明神岳 myoujin-dake?)
- The peak at 2931m lies on a mountain ridge stretching south from Maehotakadake and offers many climbing routes.
- Nishihotakadake (西穂高岳 nishihotaka-dake?)
- The peak at 2909m lies on a mountain ridge running southwest from Okuhotakadake, just before the ridge thins out. It is surrounded by many similar rocky peaks which make a discrimination at first glance difficult.
- Ainodake (間ノ岳 aino-dake?)
- This peak at 2907m lies on a ridge between Okuhotakadake and Nishihotakadake.
- Gamadafuji (蒲田富士 gamadafuji?)
- This is the western peak (2742m) of Karasawadake. The winter ascend route for Okuhotakadake passes here.
[edit] Main ascend 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. In case of snow fall the area becomes extremely dangerous. Since routes may become impassable special care is required.
[edit] For the general public
- Okuhotakadake
- Kamikōchi ― Myōjinike (明神池 myoujin-ike?) ― Tokusawa (徳沢 tokusawa?) ― Yokoo (横尾 yokoo?) ― Karasawa ― Okuhotakadake
- Kamikōchi ― Myōjinike ― Tokusawa ― Panorama course (folding screen head) ― Karasawa ― Okuhotakadake
- Kitahotakadake
- Kamikōchi ― Myōjinike ― Tokusawa ― Yokoo ― Karasawa ― Kitahotakadake
- Nishihodoku (西穂独標 nishihodoku?)
- Shinhodaka Onsen ― Shinhodaka Ropeway ― Nishiho mountain cottage ― Maruyama (丸山 maruyama?) ― Nishihodoku
- Kamikōchi ― Naka ridge (中尾根 nakaone?) ― Nishiho mountain cottage ― Maruyama (丸山 maruyama?) ― Nishihodoku
[edit] Intended for good walkers
- Maehotakadake-Okuhotakadake
- Kamikōchi ― Dakesawa mountain hut ― Kimikodaira (紀美子平 kimikodaira?) ― Maehotakadake ― Okuhotakadake
The ascend from the Dakesawa hut to Kimikodaira (Jūtarō new road (重太郎新道 juutaroushindou?) is the steepest ascend in the Japanese alps. As there is no water on that way, if climbing both mountains, Okuhotakadake and Maehotakadake, the ascend route via Karasawa is more popular.
[edit] Intended for skilled and advanced people
- Yarihotaka traverse route
- Mount Yari― Ōbamidake (大喰岳 oobamidake?) ― Nakadake (中岳 naka-dake?) ― Minamidake (南岳 minami-dake?) ― Daikiretto (大キレット daikiretto?) ― Kitahotakadake ― Karasawadake ― Okuhotakadake ― Gendarme (ジャンダルム jandarumu?) ― Ainodake ― Nishihotakadake ― Nishihodoku
[edit] Mountain huts in the vicinity
There are various Alpine huts in the neighbourhood of Hotakadake:
- Hotakadaka mountain cottage (穂高岳山荘 hotakadake-sansou?)
- Kitahotaka hut (北穂高小屋 kitahotaka-goya?)
- Karasawa hut (涸沢小屋 karasawa-goya?)
- Karasawa mountain hut (涸沢ヒュッテ karasawa-hyutte?)
- Dakesawa mountain hut (岳沢ヒュッテ dakesawa-hyutte?)
- Nishiho mountain cottage (西穂山荘 nishiho-sansou?)
- Hotakatairahinan hut (穂高平避難小屋 hotakatairahinan-goya?)
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Topographic map (1:25,000)