This is a unique, scenic, challenging and enjoyable two-day fastpacking tour at the extreme end of the Northern Alps. Our adventure kicks off in the morning from the quiet and isolated Renge Onsen hot spring lodge in Niigata prefecture, located at an elevation of 1,470 meters above sea level.  Starting out, we'll actually lose around 300m meters over the first 3 kilometers, before the "hike" portion starts in earnest. We will slowly and steadily climb through lush forest and past fields of wildflowers, gaining more than 1,200 meters over the next 7.5 kilometers before topping out on the days high point - the rounded summit of Mt. Asahi. From the peak, weather permitting, we'll be treated to exceptional 360-degree views of the ocean and surrounding peaks and distant mountain ranges. From there it's a short descent to our campground for the evening, where we'll set up our tents, enjoy a tasty full-course dinner provided by the hut, and have the chance to see the sun set over the Sea of Japan. We will head to bed early since a big, but epic day awaits us on day .

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​Day two will be a long one, so we'll be up before the sun to give ourselves plenty of time to reach our goal, and to do as much of the course in the cool morning weather as possible. Straight from the campsite we have a decent climb to knock the morning rust off the legs, before we settle into the downhill portion. While day one has us in a popular hiking and trekking area with several staffed mountain huts and escape routes, on day two we will be in a far more remote location, and will likely only cross paths with a handful of ambitious Japanese. There are a few water sources along the way, and two basic, unstaffed huts but don't expect much. We will spend the entire day on a glorious ridge with epic views in all directions. Expect things to get hot and humid as we lose elevation and approach the coast, but ultimately we'll get some relief once we descend below tree line.

Though we start out on snow, and will encounter rocky sections, overall the trail is not especially technical - just long, so it is important to come into the trip with an appropriate level of fitness and experience - especially with extended downhill travel. We can expect to be on the move for up to 10 hours the first day (18 km・+2,500 m / -1,600 m), and up to 12 hours on day two (26 km・+1,600 m / -3,705 m).