There are countless hiking routes across The Northern Japan Alps, but the Karasawa Cirque, starting from Kamikochi, Nagano Prefecture, is one of the most superb. The eleven-hour hike, which most visitors tackle over two days, takes in glacial hollows, panoramic mountain views and stunning foliage in autumn. Karasawa CirqueThe Karasawa Cirque is a steep valley, standing 2,300m above sea level in the heart of the Hotaka Peaks. The hike is particularly popular in autumn, when the leaves turn red and set the mountain scenery ablaze with color. The route is moderate in intensity, with a mixture of …