Minami Alps

Minami Alps National Park protects 35,752 hectares of the Southern Japan Alps, a rugged mountain range straddling Yamanashi, Nagano, and Shizuoka prefectures in central Honshu. Designated in 1964, the park encompasses some of Japan's wildest and most pristine alpine terrain, including Mount Kita (3,193 meters), Japan's second-highest peak. Unlike the more accessible Northern Alps, the Southern Alps remain remote and challenging, with limited road access and extensive roadless wilderness requiring serious mountain skills to explore. Ancient granite peaks, deep valleys carved by rushing rivers, old-growth forests, alpine meadows, and permanent snowfields create dramatic landscapes. The area was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2014, recognizing its ecological significance and the sustainable relationship between mountain communities and alpine environments. Endemic species, including rare plants and the Japanese serow, thrive in this protected wilderness. The park represents Japan's commitment to preserving large-scale mountain wilderness accessible primarily to experienced mountaineers.