Japan Alps · Kamikochi · Yari–Hotaka
Rent a complete alpine kit — pack, rain gear, poles, helmet — without dragging it on your flight. Western L–XL sizes, booked and paid entirely in English. We don't rent boots.
⚠️ Pilot season: only 5 of 5 slots remaining this summer.
Checked-bag fees, a stuffed pack you only need for a few days, gear you can't buy in your size once you land. Japanese outdoor shops rarely stock Western L–XL, hut bookings are phone-only in Japanese, and gas canisters can't even be shipped. We solve the logistics so you just show up and hike.
No heavy bags on your flight
Pick up a full kit near Matsumoto, return it from any convenience store.
Western L–XL in stock
Tell us your size when booking — we fit hikers Japanese shops turn away.
All in English
Booking, payment, and support entirely in English. No Japanese phone calls.
Priced in USD (charged in USD). JPY / EUR shown as a guide — your bank handles conversion.
Established trails, hut stays
$129 / week
≈ ¥20,800 · ≈ €115
Best for: Karasawa, Chogatake, Jonen (hut stay)
Book Standard KitMost routes — long descents need poles
$149 / week
≈ ¥24,000 · ≈ €130
Best for: Yarigatake, Jonen–Nenen traverse, Enzanso loop
Book Full KitScrambles, chains, rockfall zones — helmet included
$179 / week
≈ ¥28,800 · ≈ €155
Best for: Yarigatake (Hozaki chains) ← recommended here, Hotaka / Daikiretto
Book Alpine KitClimbing helmet
Strongly advised on Yari–Hotaka scrambles.
Included in Alpine Kit — no extra charge.
Tent (1–2 person) · Sleeping bag (3-season) · Sleeping mat
Most tent sites (including Karasawa) are walk-in, no reservation needed. A spot is not guaranteed at peak — but no Japanese phone call required.
⚠️ Limited availability — confirm availability when booking.
Stove (rental) · Cookset (rental)
Stove + cookset only — fuel canister NOT included. Gas canisters cannot be shipped; pick one up in Matsumoto on your way (we'll send you a map of where to buy). Required for self-cooking at tent sites.
Insulation layer (down or fleece) · Microspikes / light crampons
3,000m ridgelines drop to 0–5°C even in August. Microspikes also useful for late-spring snow (through early June). Sharp metal = restricted in aircraft carry-on; renting solves that.
No cell signal on most Japan Alps routes. This is the map local guides trust. Offline apps miss trails.
Essential for chain sections. Sold (not rented) for hygiene — yours to keep.
Popular combinations
We ship to your pickup point
Choose a Yamato office hold (営業所止め) or a PUDO locker near Matsumoto. We ship 2–3 days before your start date.
Collect & hike
Pick up your gear on your way through Matsumoto — everyone routes through here by bus, since private cars are banned in Kamikochi.
Return from any conbini
After your trek, drop the bag at any convenience store with the prepaid label inside. No trip back to us required.
Pilot season: pickup is by Yamato office hold or PUDO locker. In-person handoff is available in Matsumoto / Azumino only. We don't ship to hotels yet.
Multi-day hut and tent treks from Kamikochi, returning to Matsumoto. Day-trippers around Kappabashi don't need us — this is for the mountains.
Karasawa
Iconic cirque, hut or tent. Great first big trek.
Standard / Full
Yarigatake
The spear. Chains near the summit — Alpine recommended.
Alpine
Chogatake
Gentler ridge with Yari views. Hut stay.
Standard / Full
Jonen / Tsubakuro
Long ridgelines, cold even in summer.
Full + Cold
The real headaches first-time hikers hit in the Japan Alps — and how we handle each one.
No — gas canisters can't fly, and they can't be shipped domestically either. So everyone buys fuel locally. Rent the stove + cookset from us (Cook Pack), and grab a canister at an outdoor shop in Matsumoto on your way in — we'll send you a map of exactly where to buy it.
Go by tent. Most tent sites in the area (including Karasawa) are walk-in — no reservation and no Japanese phone call required. We rent the full Tent Pack (tent, 3-season sleeping bag, mat). A spot isn't guaranteed at peak foliage season, but you never have to make a booking.
Largely, yes. Huts and ticket machines take cash only, and there are no ATMs inside Kamikochi. Bring enough yen for the whole trip before you leave Matsumoto.
Mostly no. Don't rely on offline phone maps — they miss trails. Add the Yama-to-Kogen paper map (the one local guides trust) to your order.
Yes. The 3,000m ridgelines drop to 0–5°C even in August. The Cold Pack adds an insulation layer; it also includes microspikes, useful for late-spring snow (through early June).
Every kit includes a bear bell — the local signal that keeps encounters safe, and what experienced hikers here actually use. Bear spray is impractical in this terrain and restricted on transit, so we don't carry it; the bell is the right tool here.
Private cars are banned from Kamikochi — everyone routes through Matsumoto by bus. That's exactly where we hand off your gear, so it fits your route with zero detour.
Probably better than anything you'd find locally. Japanese stores rarely stock Western L–XL — we do. Tell us your height and usual sizes when booking and we'll prep the right fit.
Self-cater. Rent the Cook Pack (stove + cookset) and cook your own meals at tent sites. Remember fuel is bought separately in Matsumoto (see the stove question above).
The scrambles on Yari and the Hotaka range have chains and rockfall — a helmet is advised. The Alpine Kit includes one; or add the Helmet add-on to a Standard/Full kit.
Only 5 of 5 summer slots left. Book in a few minutes.
Book your kit