DAY4

November 8th: 63km / 4,500mD+ / 4,000mD-
On Day 4, we depart from Shimobe Onsen and make our way to the Southern Alps Front Trail, passing through the sacred Mt. Minobu along the way. The highest point of the day is Mt. Kushigata at 2,052m, while the lowest point is 201m near National Route 52 in Minobu Town.
The journey begins with a visit to Kuon-ji Temple on Mt. Minobu, the head temple of the Nichiren sect, where we pause to pay our respects and purify ourselves before following the Minobu Trail, a historic religious path, to Akazawa-juku.

From Akazawa-juku, a post town that still retains its traditional atmosphere, we continue toward the Southern Alps Front Trail, rapidly gaining elevation from the Satoyama foothills as we ascend to Mt. Kushigata, the highest point of the day. After passing through the mystical primeval forest and descending Mt. Karamatsudake, the rejuvenating Ashiyasu Onsen and Kanayamazawa Onsen await to soothe our weary bodies.