Japan Alps

Hi,

My wife and I will be in Japan from March 25-April 4th. We would love to visit the Japanese Alps but I'm not positive if there are any hotels open around hiking areas.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a few things:

1. Are there any areas around hiking open?
2. Where would you recommend going?
3. If the japanese alps aren't really accessible, any other mountain areas/towns we could go hiking in?

Thanks!

. . . time of the year, there will be snow at high elevations.

The best bet is to visit Kamikochi and Hirayu Onsen, then take the Shin-Hodaka ropeway to get a good view. Not sure Kamikochi is open yet at that time.

The best time to visit Kamikochi is May, when there is still snow on the mountains as that contrasts with the sprouting greenery and the blue sky. Koyo season is disappointing due to lack of maples.

Book early though; I had difficulty finding accomodations for late May, and it is expensive in Kamikochi and Hirayu Onsen.

Eh hrolf555,
Just couple websites, I�fm using, to give me an idea of mountain range of all Japan. I don�ft know if this information is to broad for your request (if you are trailing whole country or just Alps area).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_and_hills_of_...
List of mountains, grouped by size. When you click on mountain name, that interest you, it gives you little briefing (co-ordinates).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_100_famous_mountain...
List of the 100 famous mountains in Japan

http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=39.876019&ln=141.108398&z=1...
Search the pictures, for mountain ranges, that is of interest to you. Once you click it it�fll give you a larger image, sometimes description (sometimes other languages), of that persons trip. You can further sort images, link below, by tag name on side.
http://www.panoramio.com/user/11781/tags/mountain

Don�ft know how correct the information, that up loader provided, but there is a �epinned�f location on Google map (to right) where you can zoom in and get a general idea of what city/town is in that area.

It is still too early in the year for higher elevation hiking in the Alps. The facilities in Kamikochi are closed until late April. The valley floor might be accessible, but the peaks surrounding Kamikochi are still heavily snow covered and the weather conditions dangerous.

Outside of the highest elevations, hiking and accomoddations shouldn't be a problem. The Takayama area might be a good destination.

I just put my travelblog entry for Kamikochi up: http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Nagano/blog-256132.html