What is the Great Southern Japanese Alps?
The "Great Southern Japanese Alps" is a self-challenge event where participants aim to conquer all the famous peaks and 3000-meter mountains in the main area of the Southern Japanese Alps on their own.
The Southern Alps (Akaishi Mountains) are known for their massive scale and depth. Together with the Northern Alps (Hida Mountains) and Central Alps (Kiso Mountains), they form the Japanese Alps. The Southern Alps feature broad ridges and deep forests, offering a different kind of grandeur compared to the Northern Alps.
You can challenge yourself to see how quickly you can return or take your time to fully enjoy the mountains at your own pace. The style is entirely up to each participant.
Take on the grand course supported by fellow event participants and supporters, and fully enjoy the grandeur, severity, and beauty of the Southern Alps.
GREAT SOUTHERN JAPANESE ALPS 2026 Entry List
Upcoming Challenges
| # | No. | Photo | Name | Category | Planned Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
笹岡 誠 SASAOKA MAKOTO |
Hut Resupply | 2026-08-01 06:00 | |
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Course: 検討中です。 Intro: 胸熱企画！とり急ぎ♪
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| 2 | 2 |
池田 征寛 Yukihiro IKEDA |
No Resupply | 2026-07-11 05:00 | |
|
Course: 奈良田からスタートして、できる限り効率良く線をつなぐ！ Intro: またゼッケン番号・奇数を取り損ねた〜＼(＞o＜)／
LISTENでお話しさせていただきました。7月が待ち遠しい。超楽しみ！
https://listen.style/p/ibuki/gv4cg9wg
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| 3 | 3 |
坪井繁和 Shigekazu Tsuboi |
Hut Stay & Resupply | 2026-07-11 20:49 | |
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Course: 計画未定ですが、美濃國山城トレイル2026年度の催事が終わりましたら考えます！ Intro: 大北アルプス2024、大シガイチ2025と楽しませてもらい。
卒業かなとおもってましたが、我慢できそうにない催事が公開されソワソワしておりました。
ゆっくりしか行けませんが、粘り強く納期厳守で頑張ります。
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Event Period
Eligibility
- Those who have traversed ridgelines above 2500m for more than two consecutive days.
- Those who have the skills and physical strength to safely complete the course of this event.
- Those who have mountain insurance (including coverage for search and rescue costs).
Participation Fee
- For participants who already have an IBUKI device: 10,000 yen (tax included)
- For those without an IBUKI device: 15,000 yen (tax included)
Rules
- Start from any trailhead you can reach by public transit. Visit all checkpoints, keep your track in one continuous line, and finish at any trailhead you like.
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The checkpoints are as follows: a total of 23 points.
- Hundred Famous Mountains (in model course order), 15 peaks: Mt. Tekari (2591m), Mt. Hijiri (Mae-Hijiri, Oku-Hijiri) (3013m), Mt. Akaishi (3120m), Mt. Arakawa (Mae-dake, Naka-dake, Higashi-dake) (3141m), Mt. Shiomi (3047m), Mt. Senjo (3033m), Mt. Kaikoma (2967m), Houou Sanzan (Jizo-dake, Kannon-dake, Yakushi-dake) (2840m), Mt. Kita (3193m), Mt. Aino (3189m)
- 3000-meter Peaks (excluding Hundred Famous Mountains), 3 peaks: Mt. Notori (Nishi-Notori-dake, Notori-dake) (3051m), Mt. Maruyama (3032m)
- 200 Famous Mountains, 300 Famous Mountains, and event-designated mountains along the ridgeline routes (in model course order), 5 peaks: Mt. Chausu (300 Famous) (2604m), Mt. Kamikochi (200 Famous) (2803m), Mt. Osawa (2819m), Mt. Mibu (2999m), Mt. Asayo (300 Famous) (2799m)
- You can start whenever you like during the event period, but be sure to finish before it ends.
- Choose your start and finish point, direction, and route however you like as long as you follow the rules.
- Take a photo of yourself and a sign or landmark at every checkpoint and send us the link.
- Carry an IBUKI GPS device and share your track on the official page.
- We'll check your photos and logs to confirm you've hit every checkpoint and post your finish time in the rankings.
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Pick a style below and let us know your category. You can change it later if needed, like when you have to stay in a hut.
- Hut Stay & Resupply Category: Participants rest (30 minutes or more) and stay in huts, and resupply food.
- Hut Resupply Category: Participants resupply food and drinks in huts without resting.
- No Resupply Category: Participants do not rest or resupply food in huts, only replenishing water.
- Getting food or a place to sleep from others counts the same as using a hut.
- If you're in the Hut Resupply category, you can also grab gear sold at huts, like charging a battery or buying gas cans, but everything you carried must come back down with you.
- You may shop and resupply in towns or bus-accessible places. Water refills are fine anywhere, even paid ones at huts.
- Carry all your gear yourself except the food and drinks you resupply. You can swap gear at places reachable by public transit.
- You can leave the course and resume from any trailhead later. Split your attempt into sections and go home in between if you like. Vehicle travel outside the course is fine, but make sure your GPS log eventually connects in one line. Your time is measured from your first start to your final finish.
- Sections you'd have to cover twice in one push only need to be logged once if splitting your attempt lets you pass them just once.
- This area is one of Japan's toughest mountain zones. Put safety first and avoid risky ridges in bad weather.
- Handle all the usual prep for a multi-day trek: gear selection, route and food planning, hut bookings, climbing plans, and insurance.
- This is a personal challenge. We'll watch over you and call for help if needed, but we can't compensate for accidents.
Model Course
As a reference, we present a model course that passes through all checkpoints.
As stated in the rules, as long as you visit every checkpoint and keep your track continuous, you don't have to follow this specific course.
https://ibuki.run/ev/8964704438286636374/map
Distance: 137km
Total Elevation Gain: 15,447mD+
Standard Course Time: 99 hours 52 minutes
Information
IBUKI STATION Podcast
We share the latest news and insights for the Great Northern Japanese Alps on our IBUKI STATION podcast. Tune in to stay updated!
Organizer: Great Trails Organizing Committee
Cooperation：
Contact：info@great-trails.jp