Japanese Alps - Japan

The Japanese Alps is a series of mountain ranges in Japan that bisect the main island of Honshū. The name was coined by William Gowland, the "Father of Japanese Archaeology," and later popularized by Reverend Walter Weston (1861--1940), an English missionary for whom a memorial plaque is located at Kamikochi, a tourist destination known for its alpine climate. When Gowland coined the phrase, however, he was only referring to the Hida MountainsThree ranges Today, the Japanese Alps encompass the Hida Mountains, the Kiso Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains. These towering ranges include several peaks exceeding 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in height, the tallest after Mount Fuji. The highest are Mount Hotaka at 3,190 m (10,466 ft) and Mount Kita at 3,193 m (10,476 ft). Mount Ontake in Nagano Prefecture, at 3,067 m (10,062 ft), is a destination for pilgrimages as well as an active volcano, having erupted most recently in 1979 and 1980. The Northern Alps, also known as the Hida Mountains, are a mountain range which stretches through Nagano, Toyama and Gifu prefectures. A small portion of the mountains also reach into Niigata Prefecture. [edit] Central Alps Main article: Kiso Mountains The Central Alps, also known as the Kiso Mountains, are a mountain range in Nagano and Gifu prefectures. Southern Alps Main article: Akaishi Mountains The Southern Alps, also known as the Akaishi Mountains, are a mountain range Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures.