2-day Basic Rock Climbing Course in Mt. Ogawa

Learn rock climbing in Mt. Ogawa with this 2 day course that includes overnight camping and camp fire with an IFMGA mountain guide Cveto!

Private

Okuchichibusankai

2 Days

May - Oct

Low

All levels

Description

Mt.Ogawa, Ogawayama in Japanese, is one of the most popular free climbing spots in the country. If you love climbing, it is a must destination!

Located near Kawakami Village in Nagano Prefecture, Mt. Ogawa is approximately 3 hours drive from Tokyo. It offers high-quality granite and a variety of different routes that all levels of climbers can enjoy.

The climbing area is about 1600m above sea level. Many crags are in the forests or facing all different directions and even in a very hot summer, the climbing is pleasant in cool temperatures.

This 2-day course is an ideal starting point for those who have done bouldering but have little or no prior experience in top-roping. You will have the chance to improve your skills as a beginner or in case you are a more advanced climber, your technical skills. Also, we will enjoy climbing surrounded by stunning nature, scattered all over in pine or white birch forests, so you will also enjoy nice views.

If you are looking just for more basic learning of rock climbing, we can also offer a group course for beginners in Mt. Ogawa. Of course, other options for more advanced climbers as multi-pitch, lead, or crack climbing can be discussed.

The course starts with basic outdoor climbing on Day 1. This includes harness-wearing and getting to know the equipment. Then, during the second day, you will develop more top-roping skills. Plus everyone gets to enjoy a real campfire camp and sleeping in a tent at altitude!This course welcomes beginners who have always wanted to go rock climbing but did not know how to start and where to go. I help you to start rock climbing safely and/or to improve your skills. I teach the basics in two days such as basic rock-climbing knots, efficient climbing techniques, and top-roping for beginners.Overnight accommodation is provided near the routes in a large campground with good facilities at 1,600m altitude.I would like to teach you rock climbing and introduce you to Japanese-style camping! I will also review and explain more about your skills in front of the campfire at night! How special is that!

Interested in joining us for this rock climbing course in Mt. Ogawa with IFMGA mountain guide Cveto!? Please send a request, we’ll be waiting for your message!

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Transportation start and back

- Mountain guide expenses

Price details

Not included: accommodation in hut or tent, personal insurance. Please make sure you are individually insured appropriately with international travel insurance which specifically covers rock climbing or mountaineering.

Itinerary

Day 1: Learn rock climbing and enjoy fire camp and tent

I will meet you either at Mt. Ogawa (if arriving by car) or Shinano Kawakami Station (if arriving by train) at 10 am to take you to the climbing and camping area. Rock climbing basics will be taught all day. You will learn about safety basics when outdoor climbing as well harness wearing, tying knots, belaying and getting to know the proper equipment. At the evening, we will enjoy a real camp fire and sleeping in a tent by the river!

Day 2: Rock climbing

During the second day, we will develop more efficient climbing techniques and top-roping skills for beginners.

Details

More info

Group size: 4 to 6 people

Equipment rentals are available. For beginners I can rent everything and for experienced climbers with own gears please tell me what you want to rent: climbing shoes (please tell me your shoe size, 1500 yen for 2 days), harness, helmet, chalk bag, belay device. Rental is 1000 yen each for 2 days.

1 person and group of 2, are the prices for intermediate to advanced climbers as I take only 1 to 2 persons on multi-pitch routes etc..
Please note that price per group is 20.000 JPY higher on weekends and national holidays.

Accommodation: Overnight accommodation is provided near the routes in a large campground with good facilities. You can stay at Mt. Kimpo Hut or camp. Hut price: ¥4200 - ¥6200 per night, without meals (depends on the number of people in one room), or HB 7000 to 9500JPY per night/per person. Camping: Staying at the campsite, you have to pay campsite usage; the fee is 700JPY. If you can, please bring your own tent and camping equipment, tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils etc..) Meeting point: Kawakami village, Mt. Ogawa, Mawarime campsite or Shinano Kawakami Station at 10:00 am or JR Nirasaki station at 8:40 am. If travel from Tokyo: JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku station take 7:00 am Super Azusa No.1 arriving at Nirasaki at 8:37 am (Train fare is around 4.300JPY one way). Or by "shinkansen" bullet train, from Tokyo to Saku city and then the local line to Kawakami Station (train fare is about 6.400 JPY one way). I can meet you at any of the mentioned stations and we drive up to the campsite. From there it will take about 10-45 minutes to the cliffs. We can buy lunch and snacks/drinks at the small stores on the way or some at the hut too. Equipment: and gear rentals are available. Please ask as the sizes are limited: climbing shoes 1.500JPY, harness 1.000JPY, helmet 1.000JPY, chalk bag 500JPY, belay device 500JPY, for 2days and tent for 3 persons 4.000JPY. Others: sometimes trip itinerary may be altered and/or date change can be discussed, case by case, based on the weather forecast. I will modify my schedule and we’ll do our best to make our guests happy. I would advise you to make your schedule flexible as well. If the weather forecast and conditioners are really bad on scheduled day or day before and after as well; then we’re always offering plan B. Special service: I can pick you up at your hotel in Tokyo, early in the morning for an additional cost of 24.000 JPY per group. Please inquire if you wish this optional service and note, it is one way only, and you’ll need to returning to Tokyo by train or bus, because of heavy traffic jam, usually every afternoon.

Meeting point

At Mt. Ogawa or Shinano Kawakami Station at 10:00 am

About the guide

Cveto

5.0

(21)

Mountain Guide

I’m an international IFMGA mountain guide; also the first non-Japanese mountain guide certified by the JMGA (Japan Mountain Guide Association); born in Slovenia.

My country is small but well known in the world as strong in sports and mountaineering. I use to compete as Olympic team member and on World Cup competitions as a Cross-country skier. After I left Slovenia and traveled all over the world, I ended up in Japan. I married beautiful native lady, and have lived here for 30 years. I love Japanese mountains and feel privileged to be able to enjoy these mountains trough the entire four seasons.

I’m based at the foot of Japan Alps; convenient place in winter for ski touring from Nagano to Hokkaido, winter mountaineering or ice climbing at Yatsugatake, and of course ascending the symbol of Japan Mt.Fuji.

In summer Japan is a great place for hiking, alpine climbing or popular shower-climbing and some fine sport/free climbing year around.

Since 2013, I’m working on NHK (Japanese national TV) programs, introducing Japan culture and outdoor activities, climbing skiing etc. Check it out at the link below the recent one about BC skiing.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2007412/

It is my absolute pleasure also to take and guide you in my home country Slovenia. In addition to guide in the mountains, I also enjoy having the opportunity to teach mountain climbing skills to every level of climbers, here in Japan. This is because I wish everybody to be SAFE on the mountains.
Please contact me on E&S if you would love to have great experience, as well as a tailor-made plan for other mountains and sport climbing all over SE Asia, EU, South America....in any season!

Languages

Slovenian | Japanese | English

Request more information

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8