The air is crisp, the snow deep and undisturbed. The Japanese Alps tower around us, beckoning us to their slopes. In central Japan, just under two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Nagano is known ...

A popular hiking trail that leads directly to the summit ... of the 3,067-meter-high volcano that straddles the borders of Nagano and Gifu prefectures. One trail is the Hacchodarumi ridge ...