Day 20 — Getting to Know Kamikochi
It was around the end of October 2022, when my friends and I decided we needed to go somewhere for traveling. It was in the middle of the most enjoyable season: Autumn. The temperature was just right and nature was decorating itself with all the color changes. We then decided that we would go to Nagano prefecture in pursuit of witnessing autumn leaves in Kamikochi.
Please understand that this post is not meant as a detailed travel itinerary. Rather, I wanted to share my experience which hopefully will convince you to consider your own visit.
Plan
Since there were multiple people on this trip, we decided that it would be more cost-effective if we could share resources during the trip. This means we would travel by using a rented car. On the first day, we would stop at several sightseeing places on the way to Kamikochi. We would later spend the night at a simple guest house and start trekking in Kamikochi the day after.
Day 1 — Matsumoto City
We started our trip from Yokohama City around 6 am in the morning and arrived in Matsumoto City at around 1 pm. When we arrive at Matsumoto City, I had an impression that the vibe was very sentimental and cinematic. We walked around Matsumoto Castle and then had a soba lunch at sanjiro.
The soba restaurant was situated inside a small house with no window. Since we were the only customer then, it was almost dead silent. My friends told me that it was prohibited to use your phone while eating there. All of this combined with the fact that the staff was an elderly obaasan made the atmosphere a bit tense. It is one of the most unique eating experiences I have ever had. After finishing lunch, we continued driving to our next destination which is a wasabi farm.
Day 1 — Daio Wasabi Farm
We arrived at Daio Wasabi Farm around 3 pm. This was our second stop after Matsumoto City. When we first arrive at the farm, we were welcomed by an area filled with souvenir shops. It was a bit crowded because there were many stalls selling different things. I decided to get a wasabi ice cream while I was there.
You can get either full wasabi ice cream or wasabi and vanilla mixed ice cream. This is my first time tasting wasabi in ice cream and it definitely left a unique impression.
We strolled around the farm and found many beautiful areas. The areas where the wasabi plants are cultivated have water streams coming from nearby rivers. The water is crystal clear and feels cold to the touch.
Day 1 — Rest
By the end of the day, we were all exhausted from the long driving and sightseeing. We stayed in Sakuranosakukoroni guest house which also served as our restaurant for the night. At that time, one of our friends just celebrated her birthday so we took the opportunity to make a small party at the guest house. They serve various kinds of takoyaki and cakes; they tasted amazing.
The guest house was definitely affordable but it has limited facilities. Although it is equipped with a toilet, it doesn’t provide a shower room. Therefore, we went to a nearby hot spring Shakunagenoyu to clean ourselves and relax after a tiring day. The hot spring has different kinds of pools both indoor and outdoor, they also have a pressured water jet pool. We went back to the guest house after we finished bathing and rested until the next morning.
Day 2 — Kamikochi
The next day we started moving at 6 am in order to avoid being jam-packed with other tourists in Kamikochi. We managed to see the sunrise also known as asahi in Japanese. Since private cars are not allowed into national parks including Kamikochi, we had to park the car and continue by taxi. We finally arrived at Kamikochi around 7.45 am.
Taisho Ike Pond
After a few minutes of walking from the taxi drop-off, we reached Taisho Ike Pond. We walked to the lakeside and found many people already taking photos there. The lake was very calm and the water was crystal clear. Unfortunately, it was foggy when we arrived, therefore we could only see the lower part of the mountain range beyond the lake.
Before moving on to the next area, I tried to mimic the scene of people throwing rocks into the water but found out that it was harder than it looked.
Walking Along Azusa River
Along the trekking trail, you can see Azusa River. The trees lining the river make the scene very captivating. The air felt so refreshing because of the temperature and also the earthy aroma of the surrounding nature. The rocky river banks are also a good spot for camping.
Rest Area & Food
After we reached Kappa Bridge, we found there were a lot of restaurants and hotels in the area. There were wide varieties of food ranging from hearty meals such as curry to sweets. I decided to take it easy and just grab a karaage for myself.
The area bustling with many souvenir shops and even a pharmacy. There are also plenty of seats for taking a rest. It was already crowded when we arrived around 9.50 am. Therefore, I suggest coming here early to avoid the crowd.
Hotaka Mountain Range
As we continued our walk, we stumbled upon a stunning view of the Hotaka Mountain Range. The sides of the valley were full of trees with ongoing color changes. In the middle, there is the Azusa river flowing between banks of white rocks. Far in the back, the mountain range looked as if they were standing next to each other, forming a big wall.
Although we didn’t climb the mountain, it was still a breathtaking experience from beneath.
Myōjin Pond
As we kept going, we arrived at Myōjin Pond area. To go into the pond, we needed to purchase a ticket at the shrine. From here, you can still see the Hotaka mountain range from a slightly different angle.
As you go further into the pond, there was a small wood extension that goes further into the pond. Besides it, there are two small red boats for decorations. There was a long line of visitors queuing and praying when we got there.
Going Back
By 1 pm, we had already reached the end of our plan in Kamikochi. We started walking back to the tourist information center. Before leaving, I made sure to once again grab an ice cream.
When we finally ordered a taxi, we got lucky because an Alphard taxi had just dropped off its passengers and we were next in the line. It was such a comfy ride after hours of trekking around Kamikochi.
We started driving back around 3 pm and finally arrived home around 9 pm.
Epilogue
Kamikochi houses many great natural sceneries such as ponds, rivers, forests, and mountains all in one place. Visiting Kamikochi has been such a refreshing experience outside of my daily routine life. It has certainly made memories that will last me a lifetime. Although I didn’t hike the mountain this time, I wish there will be a next time when I can explore more in Kamikochi.
In total, I spent around ¥20.000 on the trip; I think it is relatively affordable. If you like exploring nature, I suggest putting Kamikochi on your list of must-visit places. I hope this post is will convince you to experience Kamikochi yourself.
