Karasawa Cirque
Karasawa Cirque is one of major glacial cirques in Japan, located in the Kamikochi region of Azumi, Matsumoto City, in Nagano prefecture. The entire cirque and surrounding mountains are all within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, which was designated a national park on December 4, 1934.
Outline
Karasawa Cirque lies under the peaks of Mount Hotakadake, including its highest Mount Okuhatakadake, in the Hida Mountains or Northern Japanese Alps. Other peaks circling the glacial valley include Mount Karasawa, Mount Kitahotakadake, and Maehotakadake. Other important locations include: Shirade mountain pass where Hotakadake mountain cottage, built in 1924, is located at 2983m; and a ridge, Seitengrat which leads to Mount Okuhatakadake.The diameter of the cirque is about 2,000m. The floor of the cirque is 2,300m above sea level, with a difference in elevation of 900m. Melting snow from the cirque helps to form the Azusa River, which flows down through the Kamikochi valley, before joining the Sai River and then the Shinano River, Japan's longest.
The area of Karasawa, Matsumoto has been designated as a difficult-to-access area by Japan Post, so it is not possible to send mail to this area from outside.
Hiking and mountaineering
Karasawa Cirque is the center for mountaineering Mount Hotakadake, and is filled with tents in summer. Climbers might also choose to stay at Karasawa Hütte or Karasawa Hut. Some snow remains in summer. The cirque is also famous for the vivid colors of its autumn leaves, and is the "best autumn hike in Kamikochi".A popular, 2-day, 30 km round trip hiking route, with an 800m elevation gain, to the cirque begins at the Kamikochi Bus Terminal, taking hikers and climbers past Myojinkan, Yokoo, Hontani Bridge, Karasawa Hütte . The hike is relatively flat until Yokoo, then rises somewhat to Hontani bridge, and from there the elevation rises steeply to 2300m over a distance of 2 km.
It is also possible to hike down to Yokoo from Mount Yari or Mount Chō and continue to Hontani Bridge and beyond. The most experienced climbers could traverse into the cirque, for example from Mount Yari, to Mount Nakadake, to Mount Minamidake, then along the Daikiretto gap to Mount Kitahotakadake. Note that the Daikiretto gap route between Mount Yari and Mount Kitahotakadake is rated the most technically and physically challenging trail in Nagano.