Kiso Mountains

Kiso Mountains

The Kiso Mountains are a mountain range spanning three Japanese prefectures—Nagano, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka. Its highest peak, Mount Kita, stands at 3,193 meters above sea level, making it Japan’s second-highest peak after Mount Fuji. Together with the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps) and the Kiso Mountains (Central Alps), they form the Japanese Alps, commonly known as the Southern Alps.

The Kiso Mountains are a popular mountain tourism destination in central Japan. In addition to Mount Kita, there is a continuous stretch of peaks over 3,000 meters high, including Mount Komagatake, Mount Senjogatake, Mount Yari, Mount Shirouma, and Mount Haguro, making it a sacred site for mountaineering enthusiasts. The mountain area boasts extremely rich natural scenery, featuring vast alpine plants such as stone birch, beech, oak, larch, alpine willowherb, and Kita Mountain grass. It is also home to rare wildlife such as ptarmigans. In summer, when alpine plants flourish with lush greenery and blooming flowers, the area attracts many visitors for hiking and camping.

The foothills of the Kiso Mountains were once a bustling transportation hub on the way to Shinshu (Nagano), and while their heyday has passed, the region’s unique local industries and traditional culture remain very much alive. Visitors descending from the mountains can experience the area’s distinctive cultural atmosphere.

Akaishi Mountains

Must-visit reason: One of the most famous mountain tourism destinations in central Japan

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Nagano, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka Prefectures [Nagano、Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefecture]