Central Honshu Mountains Travel Guide
Discover the mighty peaks of the Central Honshu Mountains, collectively known as the Japanese Alps.
Resting in the centre of the main island of Honshu, the Central Honshu Mountains, part of the Japanese Alps, boast outstanding beauty. These towering peaks dominate the landscape and provide the perfect terrain for outdoor pursuits such as skiing, hiking, and Japan’s favourite hobby – onsen.
Where is Honshu Island?
Honshu Island is located in the middle of Japan and is the largest of the four main islands of Japan, lying between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west).
Honshu facts
Honshu Island covers about 800 miles (1,287 km), while its coastline extends 6,266 miles (10,084 km). Honshu also contains almost three-fourths of the total number of prefectures in Japan and is often regarded as the Japanese mainland. Because of this, it tends to be one of the best-known regions of Japan, and it’s here you’ll find a wealth of fascinating cities to explore, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, and Osaka.
Honshu is also home to Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, as well as its largest lake, Lake Biwa. The area is easily accessed via Nagoya, Japan’s fourth largest city, which is worth a day of urban wandering in itself.
So where are the Japanese Alps?
The Japanese Alps lie in central Japan and are a series of mountain ranges comprising the Hida (northern), Kiso (central) and Akaishi (southern), making up part of the Central Honshu Mountains.
Best Time to Visit the Japanese Alps
The Japanese Alps are a spectacular place to visit no matter the time of year, but it’s good to know what to expect throughout the seasons so you can pack and prepare accordingly.
Where to Go in the Japanese Alps
There are plenty of places to explore in the Japanese Alps, each offering a different and unique experience. So if you’re looking for things to do in Honshu, we’d recommend a visit to some of the key destinations below:
Honshu Island Tours
The best way to experience the island of Honshu is with a bespoke tour of the destination. That way, you’ll get to see all of its best bits in a timescale that suits you.
At Scott Dunn, our luxury tours are led by destination experts who know the country like the back of their hand, so you’ll be sure to pick up lots of fascinating Honshu facts and travel tips along the way.
To see the best of what Honshu Island has to offer, we’d highly recommend the Exceptional Japan tour, which takes in both Honshu’s main cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as some of its most scenic spots like Lake Kawaguchi and Tsumago’s Nakasendo Walking Trail.
Nakasendo Walking Trail
Tsumago, Japan
Step back in time as you make your way along the Nakasendo Way, a network of ancient highways used by people travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo. Along the four day walk you will trek along village paths and forested trails getting a unique taste of Japan.
Hoshino KAI Matsumoto
Matsumoto, Japan
Offering exclusive and deluxe Japanese-style accommodation, the Hoshino KAI Matsumoto is a boutique hot spring ryokan, serving exquisite Japanese cuisine, where you can relax away any tension in the hot spring baths and enjoy nightly music concerts.
Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Karuizawa, Japan
Just 90-minutes from Tokyo, the stunning hot spring resort village of Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a world away from city life. Located amid the beautiful forests and rivers of Karuizawa, this is a place to quiet the mind and relax the body.
Hotel Marunouchi Matsumoto
Matsumoto, Japan
Hotel Marunouchi Matsumoto sits in the heart of the mountain city of Matsumoto, adjacent to the 16th century Matsumoto Castle, offering modern accommodation of an international standard, making this a comfortable base from which to explore.
Jinpyokaku Honten
Yudanaka, Japan
Established in 1901, Jinpyokaku is a historic onsen ryokan loved by many writers and artists such as Yasunari Kawabata and Soseki Natsume. With only 6 rooms, this is a quiet and traditional option and a great base from which to explore the mountains.