Kamikochi Gear

Japan Alps · Kamikochi · Yari–Hotaka

Travel light. We deliver your Japan Alps gear to your hotel or a courier pickup office.

Rent a complete alpine kit — pack, rain gear, poles, helmet — without dragging it on your flight. Booked and paid entirely in English. We don't rent boots — boot fit is too personal to get right by mail.

Book your kit See kits — from $139/week

✓ English-only checkout
✓ Western L–XL in stock
✓ Return from Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Yamato

Flying to Japan with a full alpine kit is miserable.

Checked-bag fees, a stuffed pack you only need for a few days, gear you may not find in your size once you land. Japanese outdoor shops don't always carry Western L–XL. We solve the gear side — full English booking, Western sizes in stock, delivered to your hotel or a courier office.

No heavy bags on your flight

Pick up a full kit at your hotel or a courier office, return it from any Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Yamato office.

Western L–XL in stock

Tell us your size when booking — we stock sizes that may be hard to find in Japanese outdoor shops.

All in English

Booking, payment, and support entirely in English.

Choose your kit

All charges in USD. Round-trip shipping included.

Standard Kit

Established trails, hut stays

$139 / week

✓ Backpack — Kestrel 48 (M) / Kyte 48 (F) for hut stays, or Zulu 55 (M) / Jade 53 (F) for tent camping (subject to change based on availability)
✓ Rain jacket + rain pants (Montbell grade)
✓ Headlamp (300lm)
✓ Pack cover + dry bag
✓ Bear bell ← locals swear by this

Best for: Karasawa, Chogatake, Jonen (hut stay)

Book Standard Kit

Full Kit

Most routes — long descents need poles

$159 / week

✓ Everything in Standard
✓ Trekking poles (pair, folding)

Best for: Yarigatake, Jonen–Nenen traverse, Enzanso loop

Book Full Kit

Alpine Kit

Scrambles, chains, rockfall zones — helmet included

$189 / week

✓ Everything in Full Kit
✓ Climbing helmet (helmet add-on included — no extra charge)

Best for: Yarigatake (Hozaki chains) ← recommended here, Hotaka / Daikiretto

Book Alpine Kit

Add-ons

Helmet Add-on+$30

Climbing helmet

Strongly advised on Yari–Hotaka scrambles.

Included in Alpine Kit — no extra charge.

Tent Pack+$89

Tent (1–2 person) · Sleeping bag (3-season) · Sleeping mat

Most tent sites (including Karasawa) are walk-in. A spot is not guaranteed at peak season.

Cook Pack+$35

Stove (rental) · Cookset (rental)

Stove + cookset only — fuel canister NOT included. Required for self-cooking at tent sites.

Insulation Layer+$19

Down or fleece midlayer (your choice)

3,000m ridgelines drop to 0–5°C even in August.

Microspikes+$12

Chain-style microspikes

Chain-style microspikes for lingering snow on upper trails in early July or late September. Mid-summer trails are snow-free — most trekkers won't need these.

When do I need these?

Popular combinations

Yarigatake hut stay: Alpine Kit $189 — chains & rockfall near the summit make a helmet wise.
Karasawa tent camping: Full Kit + Tent Pack = $248 — sleep on the mountain.
Jonen / Tsubakuro ridge: Full Kit + Insulation Layer = $178 — ridgelines are cold even in August.
Early-July upper trail: Full Kit + Microspikes = $171 — patchy snow can still linger before mid-July.

How it works

We ship to your pickup point

Choose hotel front desk delivery, or hold at a Yamato Transport courier office (Japan's parcel courier — like UPS or FedEx). We ship 2–3 days before your start date.

Collect & hike

Pick up your gear on your way through Matsumoto — everyone routes through here by bus, since private cars are banned in Kamikochi.

Return from Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Yamato

After your trek, drop the bag at any Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Yamato office and scan the return QR code we email you. No trip back to us required.

pickup is hotel front desk or Yamato office hold. If your hotel declines the parcel, we redirect to the nearest Yamato office.

Routes we kit out

Multi-day hut and tent treks from Kamikochi, returning to Matsumoto. Day-trippers around Kappabashi don't need us — this is for the mountains.

Karasawa

Iconic cirque, hut or tent. Great first big trek.

Standard / Full

Yarigatake

The spear. Chains near the summit — Alpine recommended.

Alpine

Chogatake

Gentler ridge with Yari views. Hut stay.

Standard / Full

Jonen / Tsubakuro

Long ridgelines, cold even in summer.

Full + Insulation

Know before you go

The real headaches first-time hikers hit in the Japan Alps — and how we handle each one.

Can I bring a stove fuel canister on the plane?+

No — gas canisters can't fly, and they can't be shipped domestically either. So everyone buys fuel locally. Rent the stove + cookset from us (Cook Pack), and grab a canister at an outdoor shop in Matsumoto on your way in.

Mountain huts are phone-only and book out. What do I do?+

Go by tent. Most tent sites in the area (including Karasawa) are walk-in — no reservation and no Japanese phone call required. We rent the full Tent Pack (tent, 3-season sleeping bag, mat). A spot isn't guaranteed at peak foliage season, but you never have to make a booking.

Is Kamikochi really cash-only?+

Largely, yes. Huts and ticket machines take cash only, and there are no ATMs inside Kamikochi. Bring enough yen for the whole trip before you leave Matsumoto.

Will there be cell signal on the trail?+

Mostly no. Download YAMAP (free, works fully offline via GPS and covers the Yari–Hotaka area — it's the app locals use) before you leave Matsumoto, so you're not relying on a live signal.

It's summer — do I really need warm clothes?+

Yes. The 3,000m ridgelines drop to 0–5°C even in August. Add the Insulation Layer for a down or fleece midlayer. Microspikes are also available for lingering snow in early July or late September — mid-summer trails are snow-free, so skip them then.

Do I need crampons or microspikes?+

Mid-July to late September, the main trails (Karasawa, Yari, Cho, Jonen) are essentially snow-free — most trekkers need no traction at all. In early July or late September, upper trails can hold patchy snow; our rentable microspikes (+$12) usually cover it. Always check the mountain hut's current snow report before you go. In June and from late October, steep high routes such as the Hotaka ridge (and Yari's snow gullies in a heavy-snow year) can still hold hard snow that needs full crampons, an ice axe, and the skill to use them. That's technical terrain — we don't rent that gear. Buy or rent it locally in Matsumoto and go with a guide. Snow levels shift year to year, so the hut's latest report is the source of truth.

What about bears and wildlife?+

Kamikochi sits in core Asiatic black bear habitat, and encounters — including a few serious incidents in recent years — have happened right on these trails. Every kit includes a bear bell, the standard local precaution. For extra reassurance, many hikers also carry a trekking pole (included in Full Kit and Alpine Kit) as a physical deterrent, or bear spray. Bear spray can't be shipped or flown with — it's a pressurized irritant — so if you want it, plan to rent or buy it locally. Some Montbell stores rent bear spray for travelers who can't carry their own, but not every location carries it — check the Montbell website for which stores offer it before you go.

I don't have a car. How do I get there?+

Private cars are banned from Kamikochi — everyone routes through Matsumoto by bus. That's exactly where we hand off your gear, so it fits your route with zero detour.

Will the gear fit me? I'm taller than most.+

We stock Western L–XL sizes that can be hard to find in Japanese outdoor shops. Tell us your height and usual sizes when booking and we'll prep the right fit.

Hut meals can't handle my dietary restrictions.+

Self-cater. Rent the Cook Pack (stove + cookset) and cook your own meals at tent sites. Remember fuel is bought separately in Matsumoto (see the stove question above).

Helmets and rockfall on Yari–Hotaka?+

The scrambles on Yari and the Hotaka range have chains and rockfall — a helmet is advised. The Alpine Kit includes one; or add the Helmet add-on to a Standard/Full kit.

Do I need gloves for the chains?+

Yes — the Yari–Hotaka chain and ladder sections are far easier with grip, and wet steel is slippery. Bring gloves with a leather or synthetic-suede palm that fit snugly; fleece and wool gloves slip and aren't enough. Most hikers already own a pair — if not, any outdoor shop in Matsumoto has them.

Can I get phone signal in the Japan Alps?+

Most hiking routes above the trailhead have zero or unreliable cell signal — don't count on Google Maps or messaging apps once you leave Kamikochi.

What's improving: Japan's three major carriers (KDDI/au, NTT Docomo, and SoftBank) have all partnered with Starlink to provide satellite backup in remote mountain areas. Coverage is expanding, but as of 2026 it's limited to text messaging and select apps (no voice calls yet). It's not reliable enough to navigate by.

Our recommendation:

Download YAMAP (free, works fully offline via GPS and covers the Yari–Hotaka area) before you leave Matsumoto — it's the app locals use.
A second offline map app (Maps.me or Gaia GPS) is a good backup in case one fails.
Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head in.

Note: Standard travel eSIMs sold for Japan (Airalo, Japan Wireless, etc.) do not include Starlink satellite coverage — that feature is only available on long-term Japanese carrier contracts.

Ready to travel light?

Book your kit

Traveling as a couple or group? Each person submits a separate booking.