Senjōjiki Cirque — Attraction in Komagane

I was pretty sure that I have seen everything worth seeing after 11 years in Japan but I was wrong. After the ascent to 2612 meter station, we were transported to a different world where you can still walk through snow even on a dog day summer afternoon on the first day of July! We got there pretty early in the morning at 0730AM but it is late by local standards. To avoid the crowds and explore the mountain at a leisurely pace, I recommend getting here by 0600 in the morning (both the buses and cable cars start pretty early). The place is difficult to get to but that is worth the view on top. We rented a car from Tokyo and parked it in the parking lot of the company that runs the buses. Since personal cars are not allowed, you have to take the bus from the terminal to the cable car station which takes about 40 minutes (a thrilling ride on a narrow road). After the bus ride, take the cable car to the top which runs twice an hour to reach the highest station in Japan at 2612 meters with more cars on crowded days). On a clear day, you will see some splendid views, so make sure you charge your phones well for lots of photos! We took the standard route to reach the summit from the station which is a 3 hour round-trip for people with above average fitness levels. There are some advanced level rock climbing routes as well for the experts. Of course, check the weather before you go because there will be nothing to see on a rainy/stormy day. Expect lots of people in peak summer seasons and Autumn...

Senjōjiki Cirque is a beautiful alpine cirque located in the Kiso Mountains in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is known for its dramatic scenery, including towering cliffs, waterfalls, and alpine meadows. The cirque is also a popular destination for hiking, camping, and skiing.

I recently visited Senjōjiki Cirque on a weekend, and I was very impressed. The cirque is truly a sight to behold. The cliffs are massive and the waterfalls are cascading. The alpine meadows are lush and green.

However, I must warn that the cirque can be very crowded on weekends, especially during the summer months. If you are planning to visit on a weekend, I recommend arriving early in the morning to beat the crowds.

Overall, I had a great experience at Senjōjiki Cirque. It is a beautiful and unique place that is definitely...

To get here, you can catch a bus from Komagane Station to the Komagatake Ropeway station. From there, you can then board the ropeway gondola that'll take you to the top of the mountain. It's a bit on the expensive side, but it's absolutely worth it. Keep in mind, you can't drive to the ropeway station on your own; only buses are allowed. We visited in August, and despite the dreary weather, the scenery was absolutely stunning. There's a simple trail around the pond that takes about 50 minutes, but we really wished we had more time to hike further up to Mt. Komagatake, which can easily take up half a day. So, plan ahead if that’s on your agenda. At the summit station, there’s also a hotel with a restaurant and a...