Hotaka Mountains, Mountain peaks in Hida Range, Japan
Hotaka Mountains refers to a chain of summits in Chubu-Sangaku National Park that straddles the border between Nagano and Gifu prefectures. The tallest point rises to 3190 meters in the northern Japan Alps.
William Gowland climbed Mount Myojin in 1880 as the first recorded alpinist and opened the area to later expeditions. Walter Weston published his accounts of Japanese mountain ranges in 1896 and brought this chain to international attention.
The mountain group holds spiritual significance in Japanese traditions and stands as a central component of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains collection.
Several mountain lodges such as Hotaka Mountain Cottage and Karasawa Hut offer overnight stays for climbers traversing different summits across the range. These lodges often require advance booking, especially during the main hiking season in summer.
The north walls of the summits carry snow year-round, which shapes sharp ridges and steep rock walls. This permanent snow cover feeds several small glaciers that sit at elevations above 3000 meters (9840 feet).
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