2020.2.22 Mt. Kitayoko in snow season - Perfect for beginners to snowy mountains! -

Kitayokodake is known as an introductory level snow mountain.
The ropeway takes you up to 2,237 m, making it easy to experience high mountain winter conditions.
It takes just a few hours to reach the summit and back, making this a great mountain to test your stamina and skills.
It's an easy climb, but the views are definitely of alpine beauty.

basic information

●Altitude
Kitayokodake: 2,480 m

●Period
Date and time: February 2020

Route
Base Station – Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway → Summit Station → Tsuboniwa → Kitayokodake Hut → Nanatsuike Pond → Kitayokodake Summit → Kitayokodake Hut → Tsuboniwa → Shimakareyama Hut → Tsuboniwa → Summit Station – Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway → Base Station

*We had planned to head to Shimakareyama from Kitayokodake, but had to retreat due to bad weather.

Climbing record

▼The parking lot is large, but it gradually gets crowded because people also come here for skiing and snowboarding.
The photo was taken around 8am on Saturday.

▼When you leave the summit station, you will come to an area called Tsuboniwa.
At this point, the altitude reaches 2,237 m and the scenery becomes snowy.

▼When the weather is clear, the contrast is incredibly beautiful.

▼Once you enter the hiking trail from the small garden, you will pass through forested areas for a while.
The trees reduce the impact of the wind.

▼The rocks are rugged and interesting.

Be careful not to get your crampons caught.

▼After a while of hard work, you will arrive at Kitayoko Hut.

Just a little more effort and we'll reach the top.

After Kitayokodake Hut, the slope becomes steep and the ground is packed down, making it slippery, so it would be difficult without light crampons.

▼It seems that the temperatures were high and there was little snow in February 2020, but you can still see the frost-covered trees.

▼And then to the summit!

▼As we descended Kitayokodake and headed towards Shimakareyama, the snow and wind began to get stronger.

The weather gradually worsens.

Since it's important not to push yourself too hard, I decided to retreat.

▼They say the weather in the mountains is changeable, but I was surprised at the difference in the blue sky in the morning.

Kitayokodake was a great mountain!

Climbing information

▼For more information on Kitayokodake, click here!

Wetland Japan

Mt. Kitayokodake Hiking Information | Wetland Weather Mount Kitayokodake is located in Nagano Prefecture and is part of the northern Yatsugatake mountain range. While its elevation is 2,480 meters, you can reach 2,237 meters by ropeway. A round trip to the summit can be completed in just a few hours...