I climbed from the Mitsumata trailhead.
The Mitsumata First Parking Lot fills up by 10 PM on Fridays during peak season, but the Second Parking Lot is fine.
However, the Second Parking Lot doesn't have toilets, so you might want to bring a water bottle!
The hiking trail is basically a staircase hell.
There's no proper rest area except for Mameuchi-daira, but there are other places where you can rest, so don't insist on resting only at Mameuchi-daira; take breaks at appropriate intervals.
Just below the summit, a field of flowers appears, like a victory road leading the hiker to the top.
The summit, after all the hardship, is a prime spot with a magnificent view of the Hotaka mountain range and Mt. Yarigatake.
I would do the staircase hell again and again just to see this view!
An observation deck overlooking the Hotaka mountain range.
It would be worth making a round trip just to see this view.
The Chogatake Hutte also looks like a comfortable place to stay.
I will never forget the view I saw from here.
The trail from the Mitsumata trailhead takes about four hours, and it's well-maintained, clean, and easy to climb thanks to the stairs.
The Chogatake Hut is only about two minutes from the summit, and the campsite is nearby, making it a fantastic location.
If you see this view as an introduction to the Northern Alps, you're sure to become hooked on mountain climbing.
The view of the Hotaka mountain range from there is beautiful and something you should definitely see.
It also gives you a clear idea of your next goal.
The moment I stood on the summit of Mt. Chogatake, I was breathless at the magnificent panorama that unfolded before me. Mt. Yarigatake and the Hotaka mountain range stretched out majestically, offering a truly spectacular view of the Northern Alps. The breeze along the ridge was refreshing, and the scenery instantly made all the fatigue of the climb worthwhile.
Then night fell. Looking up from the campsite, the sky was filled with countless stars. It was an overwhelming starry sky, something you can only experience high up in the mountains, far from city lights. The countless lights shining in the silence were so magical that words cannot describe it. Both the scenery and the starry sky were special experiences that will be deeply etched in my memory.
