Mt Sannosawa

Mt Sannosawa (Japanese: 三ノ沢岳) is one of the quiet treasures of the Central Alps and is a peaceful alternative to neighbouring Kisokoma (木曽駒ケ岳). It's every bit as rewarding for hikers who enjoy solitude and long alpine ridges. Although it shares the same ropeway trailhead as Kisokoma, the experience quickly diverges. Instead of joining the crowds heading up the right side of the Senjōjiki Cirque toward Kisokoma, you climb the left side, where the trail rises steeply and zigzags across the rocky terrain. Within minutes, the noise of the ropeway station fades, and you find yourself alone in a wide, echoing bowl of granite walls and alpine air.

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Once you reach the top of the cirque at a place called Gokurakudaira (極楽平), the character of the mountain becomes clear. In front of you stretches the undulating ridgeline to Sannosawa, which is an elegant, rolling spine of earth and stone. The demanding walk is full of ups and downs, the final ascent to the summit is short but steep, and the sense of having finally arrived is deeply satisfying.

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From the top, the views are superb. To one side, Kisokoma rises sharply, its busy summit often dotted with hikers. To the other, the southern reaches of the Central Alps towards Mt Utsugi unfold in layered ridges, giving a sense of the vastness of the range. Sannosawa may not have the fame of its neighbour, but its quiet trails, sweeping ridgelines, and open alpine scenery make it a mountain that stays with you long after the hike is over.

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(All information here is based on personal observations and experiences. Check official sources before planning or starting any hikes.)