Kamikochi is the crown jewel of the Japanese Alps. The scenic area is a basin at an elevation of 1,500 meters. The Alps rise an additional 1,500 meters from there, creating a stunningly magnificent background with the beautiful aquamarine Azusa River in the foreground. This is a very popular place for mountain trekking, and the traditional starting point is Kamikochi’s symbolic bridge, Kappa-bashi. Downriver is Taisho Pond whose waters provide picture-perfect reflections of the Hotaka Range. Upriver is mystical Myojin Pond. Many tourists just come for the day, but one of the best ways to enjoy Kamikochi is to spend the night and take an uncrowded evening or early morning stroll.

• By Train: 65 min. Kamikochi Bus From Shin Shima Shima Sta. (Matsumoto Dentetsu Kamikochi Line)
  By Car: 34 Km / 50 min. from Matsumoto IC -> switch to shuttle bus at Sawando (30 min. ride)
• +81-263-95-2606
• Kamikochi, Matsumoto City, Nagano
• late Apr. to late Nov.
• Website