Mountain List
15 peaks
The Akaishi Range — popularly known as the Southern Alps. Anchored by Kita-dake (3,193 m, Japan's second-highest peak) and Aino-dake (3,190 m, third-highest), the range strings together ten 3,000-metre summits including Warusawa-dake, Akaishi-dake, Shiomi-dake, Senjō-ga-take and Nōtori-dake. Together with Kaikoma-ga-take and the Hōō-sanzan, it spans Yamanashi, Nagano and Shizuoka, with the northern half protected as Minami Alps National Park.
Approaches are longer than in the Northern Alps and the elevation gain from trailhead to ridge is considerable. In return, you get deep primeval forest, broad-shouldered massifs, quiet ridge walks, and abundant alpine life — snowfields, flower meadows and rock ptarmigans. The peak season runs from mid-July to mid-September, and the range remains a long-time favourite for serious traverses and hut-based, slow-paced mountain trips.
