The Central (“Chuo”) Alps in Nagano offer an extraordinary skiing experience, particularly for those seeking spring backcountry adventures. The area is accessed via the renowned Komagatake Ropeway, Japan’s highest ropeway, which ascends 950 meters in just over seven minutes to a breathtaking elevation of 2,612 meters. From this vantage point, visitors are treated to panoramic views of the Senjojiki Cirque—a massive glacial basin formed 20,000 years ago—and distant vistas of the Southern Alps and Mt. Fuji.

From late April to late May, this region becomes a haven for backcountry skiing, with numerous routes leading from the top station to nearby peaks towering above 3,000 meters. While alpine skiers once enjoyed a T-bar lift in the area, today the pristine slopes are reserved for backcountry skiers, providing a secluded and thrilling experience for those looking to carve their own paths in the heart of the Central Alps.