---
title: Hiking
date: 2026-11-06T13:47:00+09:00
author: Patrick Nesbitt
canonical_url: "https://staging.morinolodge.com/summer/hiking"
section: Pages
---
# Hiking

 

Hakuba is located in the northern part of the Japanese alps which is the largest national park in Japan and considered to be the mountaineering and hiking mecca of Japan.

   ![](https://staging.morinolodge.com/uploads/general/Hakuba/_960xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/hakuba-hiking-01.jpg)  

There are hundreds of trails criss-crossing the mountain range and hikes ranging from short walks to multi day expeditions. The resorts of Happo, Goryu/47, and Tsugaike are open all season and offer a convenient entry point to higher altitudes.

 

## Short Walks

 

**Happo Ike.** Happo pond is a small pond situated at over 2100m on the crest of the ridge leading down from Karamatsu Dake. Amazing views of The three biggest peaks in Hakuba, Yari, Shakushi and Shirouma can be seen reflected in the water of the pond on a clear day. It takes about 40mins walk from the top lift of Happo to get there.

**Tsugaike.** At about 1900m altitude, above Tsugaike ski resort there lies a high flat boggy area. In May after the snow melts the Mizubasho flowers and the whole area is carpeted in white. You can also see the unusual sight of fully leafed trees surrounded by snow in late May/early June. In summer the Nikko-Kisuge flowers and this time the whole place explodes with gold. The bog is reached by a 20minute walk from the top of the Tsugaike ropeway.

**Kotoomi.** This hike starts at the top of the Goryu resort gondola and follows the ridge up past Jizo no atama and the Jizonuma marsh where wild flowers bloom in July and August, finally climbing up the ridge to the summit of Kotoomi at 2009m. From the top there are amazing views of Kashimayari dake and Goryu Dake.

**Kamoshika trail.** A short looped trail leading through deciduous forest with the chance of spotting Kamoshika (a kind of deer-antelope).

 

## Longer Hikes

 

   ![](https://staging.morinolodge.com/uploads/general/Hakuba/_960xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/hakuba-208.jpg)  

**Karamatsu Dake.** A three or four hour walk along the ridge from the top of Happo ski resort takes you to the summit of Karamatsu Dake (2696m). The path leads past a small pond called Happo Ike with great views of the Hakuba peaks and then up through open birch groves, past some eternal snow fields until finally you arrive at the summit. The view from the top is outstanding. To the east Hakuba is laid out like a map far below. To the west is the spectacular peak of Tsurugi Dake and the Japan sea beyond. Between Karamatsu and Tsurugi lies the deepest canyon in Japan Kurobe canyon and to the south countless peaks stretch away to the horizon. On a really clear day Fuji can be seen away to the south west.

**The three Hakuba Peaks and the snowy valley.** This can be done as areally long day but is probably better split into two with an overnight stay at one of the campsites or at the Shirouma Dake hut.The route includes a walk up the Daiseki gorge which is full of perennial snow, followed by an ascent of the three highest peaks in Hakuba, Shirouma(2903m), Shakushi (2), and Yari (2) and ends with a descent past the highest onsen in Japan Yari onsen at 2100m and back to the starting point.

 

## Multi-Day Expeditions

 

**Kurobe Gorge.** This is a mostly low-level walk through the guts of the Kurobe gorge. The [Kurobe Gorge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurobe_Gorge) is the deepest Gorge in Japan. The mountain walls on either side rise to 3000m and the floor of the gorge plunges to 1500-2500m below. The route starts from Unazuki onsen. A train ride takes you along the first part of the gorge through beautiful scenery to Keiyakidaira where there is a visitors centre. From there it is a long days walk through the deep gorge crossing subsidiary rivers on huge snow bridges left over from big winter avalanches.

 

   ![Snow covered mountain peaks and stormy skies over a large lake (Kurobe Dam, Toyama, Japan)](https://staging.morinolodge.com/uploads/general/Hakuba/_960xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/AdobeStock_775024811.jpeg)  

Eventually you end up at [Kurobe Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurobe_Dam), the biggest dam in Asia (until the chinese three gorges dam comes into operation). From there you can return to Hakuba by a trolley bus cut in a tunnel that goes right through the mountain range or by high level walking trails through the mountains.

There are too many other walks around Hakuba to mention here!