Before you hike
- the guide, seasons, mountains, and hiking levels
Who we are
Guide : Moto
(Motohiro Hayashi)
In 2009, I went to Nepal for two weeks and caught my first glimpse of Manaslu, one of the great Himalayan peaks. That short experience is powerful enough to set me on the path I am on today. Throughout my 20's, I spent most of my time in trail running and skiing. At my last 20's, I went to New Zealand and worked for local guiding company, Ultimate Hikes for a season. Meeting people from all over the world made me realized how attractive Japan is.
After retuning to Japan, I started guiding mountains in Japan, now as MMGuide (Moto Mountain Guide.)
I worked with Fuji Mountain Guides after I got back from NZ. In winter season, ski patrol was my main job. My base is currently Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture which is the best place for mountain enthusiast. I love this place and want you to know that Japan offers so much; countless stunning peaks, deep forests, and unforgettable landscapes. If you want to spend your time on mountains in Japan, I am honored to guide you. Spending more time in nature, moving your body, breathing deeply and experiencing new environment enriches your lifetime, I believe.
Certified
Japan Mountain Guide Association - Trekking 1
able to guide any mountains on decent trail in Japan, except for winter.
Wilderness Advanced First Aid
by Wilderness Medical Associates JAPAN
Seasons / Mountains
In our guided hikes, we offer variety of trips by season
Mid-July to Mid-October (Suitable for Alpine mountains)
-Japan Alps (Northern, Central and Southern)
-Yatsugatake
May to June / October to Mid-November (Good for Lower mountains)
-Local mountains in Nagano
-Tokyo (Mt.Kumotori)
-Nikko (Mt.Nyoho, Nantai and Nikko-shirane)
-Niigata (Mt. Myoko and Hiuchi)
-Mountains in Kansai regions
The Japan Alps and Yatsugatake are true alpine environments (from about 2,500m and above.) With its elevation, remaining snow stays until July and August in some areas, fresh snow can come from the end of Sept. on the Alps (usually gone during the day) and the decent snow falls in November and remains. With the conditions, the Alps and Yatsugatake is open mid-July to mid October for hiking when mountain huts are also open.
Other lower mountains are not comfortable hike in the Alps season (summer) because of its humidity and heat. It is more enjoyable to hike those areas in spring and autumn.
Please check the availability on this page or contact us directly about where and when to hike.
Hiking Level
Our guiding plans are divided into one-day and multi-day hikes.
Most of day hike takes roughly 4-6 hours at an average walking pace.
On multi-day trips, we hike for 6-10 hours per day.
For each tour, you will find the distance, time, and elevation gain/loss given at each guiding page.
Hiking is open to anyone, and the guide role is to support your journey. But if the difficulty level is far from your actual ability, it can feel like a mismatch- for both you and us. While we are happy and honored to support your "challenge," the most important thing is that trip feels enjoyable. To avoid that mismatches, we set recommended levels for each plan.
This is only a guideline- we will also ask your level of fitness and experience before you confirming your booking.
Level 1 - Beginner
- never hiked before, but excise regularly
- hiking experience is day hike only
- able to keep moving for 4-6 hours
Level 2 - Intermediate
- several years of hiking experiences, including overnight trips
- know what to bring and how to organize gears on the mountain
- able to hike 6-8 hors per day
Level 3 - Advanced
- many years of hiking including multi-day hiking
- enjoy mountain activity year-round (rock climbing, skiing or snowboarding, snowshoeing etc.)
- able to hike 8-12 hours per day