Day-3 Climbing Up: Trekking to Mt. Tsurugidake in the Northern Japan Alps 北アルプス剱岳

Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge) → Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 → 9th Chain Point: Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい → Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳

Table of Contents

Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge)
Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱
5th Chain Point
9th Chain Point: Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい
Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳

Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge)

Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge) → Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱

Good morning! Are you ready to climb Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳?

Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 — You will get to a ridge path.

Long chains have been installed to help to people climb these tricky areas.

Be careful to walk. Some parts of the trails are icy and slippery, even though in summer.

Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 2813m (9229ft) above sea level

Farther away from this place through Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 is an accident area, because there are loose rocks and falling rocks. Be careful when walking there.

この先、前剱にかけて、浮石、落石に注意して下さい。

Note
You have to shout an alarm when there's a rock falling around the hikers.
In Japan, we shout "RAK !!". It is an abbreviated word of "RAKUSEKI" that means "Falling rock".

A few sections of the trails are quite steep.

I recommend you bring gloves which have non-slip rubber instead of wearing normal gloves or using your bare hands so you can have a good grip while handling the chains.

Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱

The peak of Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱頂上 2813m (9229ft) above sea level

You will see Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳 from the peak of Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱.

This is Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 that located between Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge) and Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳.

This is Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳.

Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 → Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳

Note
For the peak of Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳頂上
Climbing up only 登り専用

Around the peak of the mountain, sometimes you'll come across sections where there are two separate trails that you either climb up or down.

Near the section down the trail to the next chain, there are a lot of loose rocks. Be careful when walking there.
There are also two separate trails that lead up and come back. The trail that leads back is under the same trail with loose rocks, so please take precaution.

この先、クサリまで浮石が多いので注意して下さい。
また、この真下に下山路があるので、意思を落とさないように注意して下さい。

5th Chain Point

5th chain is one of the most adventurous and exciting points.

What an adventurous trail!
Do you like it?

I was nervous and excited. — 6th Chain Point

Take the trail marked with a O (Circle) on the rocks.
In Japan, O (Circle) means OK and Good.

There are two separate trails that you either climb up or down. You shouldn't climb the trail marked by an X (Cross) on the rocks. Instead, please take the trail marked with an O (Circle).
In Japan, X (Cross) means No good and Bad.

9th Chain Point: Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい

Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばいMt. Tsurugidake 剱岳

9th Chain Point
Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい (Cliff)

Kani-no-tatebai (cliff) is the most dangerous and exciting points around this area.

There is a steep ascent with about 17m (56ft) long chains at 9th Chain Point Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい.

9th Chain Point Kani-no-tatebai カニのたてばい

ONE-WAY TRAIL
ONLY FOR TREKKERS CLIMBING UP
Creep up on the cliff carefully!

Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳

The top of Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳
2999m (9839ft) above sea level

There are some warning signs on the top.

Look at the bottom right photo above.

北方稜線：この先キケン
一般登山者は入らないでください
Hoppo Ridge : DANGER BEYOND THIS POINT
ADVANCED CLIMBERS ONLY

This board says

キケン通行止め
DANGER CLOSED TO TRAFFIC

源次郎尾根：この先キケン
一般登山者は入らないでください
Genjiro Ridge : DANGER BEYOND THIS POINT
ADVANCED CLIMBERS ONLY

Day-3 Climbing Down: Trekking to Mt. Tsurugidake in the Northern Japan Alps 北アルプス剱岳

Mt. Tsurugidake 剱岳 → 10th Chain Point Kani-no-yokobai カニのよこばい → Mt. Maetsurugi 前剱 → Kenzanso 剣山荘 (Lodge) → Raichozawa Hyutte 雷鳥沢ヒュッテ (Lodge)