Matsumoto Lodge
Lodge
Day 1
Japan Alps — 8 days (Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Yarigatake, Takayama & Shirakawa-go)
Eight days, one mountain hut, and a summit on chains. Eight days with the hut booked, a guide on the spire and a ryokan at Takayama.
Farthest Field Co.
Runs this trip
Trekking
Eight days, one mountain hut, and a summit on chains
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Matsumoto CastleEight days in the Northern Alps — a valley closed to private cars, a hut at 3,000 m, and the thatched villages on the way out. Kappa BridgePrivate vehicles have been banned since 1975 and everyone arrives by bus. YarisawaJapanese mountain huts are booked, staffed and serve dinner at a fixed hour. Sanmachi SujiTakayama was a shogunate territory taxed in timber and rice, which is why the merchant houses are as good as they are. Gasshō-zukuri housesGasshō-zukuri means "praying hands" — roofs pitched at sixty degrees because the valley takes several metres of snow and thatch cannot… Kenroku-enKenroku-en was built over about two hundred years by successive Maeda lords and is usually counted among the three great gardens of Japan.
Itinerary
Eight days in the Northern Alps — a valley closed to private cars, a hut at 3,000 m, and the thatched villages on the way out.
MatsumotoHow the day runs
- 3 hrsThe limited express from Tokyo
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationMatsumoto Lodge
Included Activities
- Castle entry
- Hotel night
- Kit check
LANDMARKS Matsumoto Castle Nakamachi Japan Alps Start point Matsumoto, Matsumoto station, Nagano 00:00 - 23:59Private vehicles have been banned since 1975 and everyone arrives by bus. It is why the valley floor is quiet by four in the afternoon.
Matsumoto, KamikochiHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — the bus in, because it is the only way
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — the Azusa river to Myojin and back
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKamikochi Residency
Included Activities
- Bus
- Lodge at Kamikochi
LANDMARKS Kappa Bridge Azusa river Myojin pond Hotaka range Japanese mountain huts are booked, staffed and serve dinner at a fixed hour. They are nothing like a European refuge and nothing like a bothy.
Kamikochi, YarigatakeHow the day runs
- 8 hrs5:30 AM — the Yarisawa valley to the shoulder hut
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationYarigatake House
Included Activities
- Hut with two meals
- Guide
LANDMARKS Yarisawa Yarigatake Mountain huts The last thirty metres are vertical rock with chains and steel ladders, and there is a queue on it in October. Everyone comes down the same way.
Yarigatake, KamikochiHow the day runs
- 2 hrs5:00 AM — the summit spire, chains and ladders
- 7 hrs8:00 AM — the long descent back down the valley
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKamikochi Residency
Included Activities
- Lodge at Kamikochi
- Guide
LANDMARKS Yarigatake spire Chain section Yarisawa Takayama was a shogunate territory taxed in timber and rice, which is why the merchant houses are as good as they are.
Kamikochi, TakayamaHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — the bus over Hirayu
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — Sanmachi, the morning market and a sake brewery
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTakayama Courtyard
Included Activities
- Brewery visit
- Ryokan at Takayama
LANDMARKS Sanmachi Suji Miyagawa market Sake breweries Gasshō-zukuri means "praying hands" — roofs pitched at sixty degrees because the valley takes several metres of snow and thatch cannot hold it.
Takayama, Shirakawa-goHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:30 AM — over to the valley
- 3 hrs9:30 AM — the village and the Wada house
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTakayama Courtyard
Included Activities
- House entries
- Ryokan at Takayama
LANDMARKS Gasshō-zukuri houses Wada House Shiroyama viewpoint Kenroku-en was built over about two hundred years by successive Maeda lords and is usually counted among the three great gardens of Japan.
Takayama, KanazawaHow the day runs
- 3 hrs9:00 AM — west to the coast
- 4 hrs12:30 PM — Kenroku-en, the samurai quarter and the 21st Century Museum
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationKanazawa Retreat
Included Activities
- Garden and museum entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Kenroku-en Nagamachi Higashi Chaya 21st Century Museum Two and a half hours to Tokyo on the Hokuriku line.
KanazawaHow the day runs
- 3 hrsThe Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Rail to Tokyo
- Day 1Castle entry
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Kit check
- Day 2Bus
- Day 2Lodge at Kamikochi
- Day 3Hut with two meals
- Day 3Guide
- Day 5Brewery visit
- Day 5Ryokan at Takayama
- Day 6House entries
- Day 7Garden and museum entries
- Day 8Rail to Tokyo
- Day 1 · 1 nightMatsumoto Lodge
- Day 2 · 1 nightKamikochi Residency
- Day 3 · 1 nightYarigatake House
- Day 4 · 1 nightKamikochi Residency
- Day 5 · 2 nightsTakayama Courtyard
- Day 7 · 1 nightKanazawa Retreat
- Day 1Matsumoto to MatsumotoThe limited express from Tokyo
- Day 8Kanazawa to KanazawaThe Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Kamikochi Residency
Hotel
Days 2, 4
Yarigatake House
Hotel
Day 3
Takayama Courtyard
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Kanazawa Retreat
Hotel
Day 7
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts and 6 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
- DinnerServed on days 1–6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–8
13 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.3/5
Based on 10 reviews
Review summary
Food4.3/5
Guide4.3/5
Itinerary4.3/5
Transport4.4/5
Accommodation4.0/5
Tour operator4.1/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
D
Divya Reddy – Lucknow2025-05-28 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Lodges along the way were simple and comfortable enough after a long day. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Recommended.
Reply from Farthest Field Co.
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
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5
S
Sofia Marchetti – Zurich2025-05-28 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Every night's lodge was a step up from what I'd braced for.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Mumbai2025-05-28 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Every night's lodge was a step up from what I'd braced for. Would book with them again.
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4
E
Elena Petrova – Dublin2025-05-28 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Would send friends their way.
Reply from Farthest Field Co.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Kolkata2025-05-28 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Rooms were basic in the best way — dry, warm, and right where we needed them. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Good value for what's included.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Stockholm2025-02-20 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Lodges along the way were simple and comfortable enough after a long day. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Good value for what's included.
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4
L
Laura Whitfield – Singapore2025-02-20 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Good value for what's included.
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3
M
Marc Dubois – Stockholm2025-02-20 · Verified booking
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Reply from Farthest Field Co.
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →