Today we will take you on a hike in Kamikochi, Japan. Kamikochi is located in the northern part of the Japan Alps in the Nagano region. It is one of the most beautiful hiking spots in Japan and is open from mid to late April and closes on November 15th. In 2015, Kamikochi was open from April 17th to November 15th, 2015.

Kamikochi is accessible from Matsumoto and Takayama, as shown in the picture below.

Getting to Kamikochi from Matsumoto:

By Train and Bus:

• Take a train from Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima Station (30 minutes).
• Transfer to a bus to Kamikochi (60 minutes).

By Direct Bus:

• Take a direct bus from Matsumoto Station to Kamikochi (10:15 AM departure only). Check the website for availability.

Note: This information is based on the provided text and may not be up-to-date. Please refer to official transportation websites for the most current schedules and information.

There is only one bus back at 4:00 PM, arriving in Matsumoto at 5:35 PM.
More information about bus schedules http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/access/bus-timetable_1/

Getting from Takayama: (We chose this route for our round trip and will review the journey on this route)
- Take the bus (Nohi bus) from Takayama Station to Hirayu Onsen bus stop, which takes 60 minutes.
(This bus route goes to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway, anyone interested can continue the trip) Then take the bus to Kamikochi, which takes 25 minutes.

One day before the trip, we bought bus tickets at Takayama Station. The round-trip ticket price is 5,040 yen (the ticket has 4 sections, the first section is used to get on the bus).

We added the train schedule at Takayama Station. We chose the first round at 7:00 AM.

6:45 AM Walk from the hotel to the bus stop at Takayama Station. Inside the station, there will be a timetable and bus stop information displayed.

The bus stop is at lane 5. It's the bus that goes to Shinhotaka Ropeway.

Across from Takayama Station, there are lockers for luggage storage and prices for transportation to various destinations.

7:00 AM: The bus arrived and everyone got on board. After a short while, the bus departed. We lined up first and were able to sit in the front, enjoying the view from the front of the bus.

It took about an hour for the bus to arrive at Hirayu Onsen. The bus to Kamikochi was already waiting, and we had to hurry to get on board. There was no time to use the restroom.

Our destination was Taisho Pond, as we planned to walk and enjoy the scenery all the way to Kappa Bridge before taking the bus back.

I showed the driver a picture and told him where we wanted to get off. The bus entered a tunnel and emerged on the other side. It took about 10 minutes to reach our destination (quite a few people got off).

The point where we got off is TaishoIke sign. Here we decided to have breakfast in a restaurant, which we had to walk through a shop to get to. The breakfast set here costs 1,600 yen.
(There is a restroom in the restaurant. We went down to the parking lot to use it first.)

This breakfast for 2 people cost 2,300 yen in total.

This is a picture of the menu and the receipt for breakfast today.
[Spoil] Click to view the hidden message

Before we start walking, let's take a look at our hiking map. From where we are at Taisho Pond, we will follow the Nature Research Trail to Tashiro Pond. Then, we will choose to walk along the water to Tashiro Bridge. Cross Tashiro Bridge and Hotaka Bridge to walk on the other side, passing the hotel, until you reach the Reverend Weston Memorial Plaque. Then, walk along the river until you reach Kappa Bridge. Cross the bridge and walk back to get on the bus at Kamikochi Bus Terminal (If you can walk further, you can walk to Myojin Bridge. You can also hire a guide).

Hiking Trail Map: http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/areamap/

Let's start walking. From the shop, go to the bus stop and there will be a sign for the 50m descent to Taisho-ike Pond.

Walking down, there will be a sign for the Restroom on the left, 0.1 km to Tashiro-ike Pond, 1.0 km to Kappa-bashi Bridge (our destination), only 3.5 km away.

We walked to the left first because we saw a pier there, we were going to take pictures first.

Here are some photos of the three sides of Taisho-ike Pond.

Taisho Pond

Let's continue walking to Tashiro-ike Pond.

After walking for 500 meters, we stopped to take photos at Mt. Yake-dake.

This text is already in English and does not require translation.

[Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden message

Let's go take some photos by the water, it's so clear!

3.0 km to Kappa-bashi Bridge. Next destination: Tashiro-Ike Pond, 0.5 km further. The snow is icy in this section, so please be careful as it may be slippery.

Along the way, there will be signs showing the species of plants and animals that live in that area.

At the intersection, turn right for Tashiro-ike Pond, 100 meters away. Turn left for Kappa-bashi Bridge, 2.5 km away.

This is the view of the Hotaka Mountain Range behind us. Let's take a記念 photo.

[Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden message

We decided to walk towards Tashiro-ike Pond while waiting for our friends who were coming later.

Walk back to the intersection and walk towards Kappa-bashi Bridge until you reach the intersection with paths leading to the Azusa-gawa Riv. Course and the Forest Course.

We walked towards the Azusa-gawa Riv. Course because the Forest Course was closed. We stopped by the AZusa-gawa River for a bit, it was only 100 meters away.

Walking back and heading towards Kappa-bashi Bridge, 2.0 km left. Met a friend on the way, stopped to take a picture and say hello.

[Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden text

This section of the trail is a concrete path, making for a comfortable walk with scenic views.

At this junction, the Forest Course and the other trails converge.

We are 100 meters away from Tashiro-bashi Bridge (Kappa-bashi Bridge is only 1.6 km away)

Read the history of Kamikochi first

I saw the Tashiro-bashi Bridge.

On the left side of the Tashiro-bashi Bridge, there is a restroom. On the day I went, the women's restroom was closed, so we had to use the men's restroom.

Take a picture of the view from both sides of the bridge.

The adjacent bridge is the Hotaka bashi Bridge

Cross the bridge and walk towards Weston Relief

Walking around taking pictures

We have arrived at Kamikochi Spa Hotel. It looks like a great place to stay.

There is a small path down from the front of the hotel where you can take photos by the water.

Next to Kamikohi Shimizuya Hotel

Walking around taking pictures.

Weston Reilef

1.1 km more to Kappa-bashi Bridge

Walk for another 300 meters and there will be a fork in the road to walk along the water. You can walk along the water to Kappa-bashi Bridge, which is only 800 meters away.

Walking along the edge of the water

You will reach Kappa-bashi Bridge in 500 meters. There is a photo spot at this point.

Just a little further and you'll see the Kappa-bashi Bridge.

Here are some photos of the Kappa-bashi Bridge.

We had lunch here and took photos for almost an hour.

On the way back from Kappa-bashi Bridge to Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Return to bus stop 5 for Takayama.

There are restrooms available at the bus stop.

On the way back, I took the bus to Hirayu Onsen and then took the train to Takayama, which was the opposite direction from the way I came.

We had some time left in Takayama, so we walked back to the Country Hotel Takayama and then went out for another sightseeing trip by car.
Thank you for following us to the end.

This review is part of the Snow Wall trip. We traveled with Airasia.
Day 1 We arrived at Narita Airport at 19:00. We sent some of our luggage to Takayama and stayed at the Narita Airport Resthouse for the night.
Day 2 We exchanged our train tickets at Tokyo Station and then took a bus from Shinjuku to Matsumoto to stay and visit the castle. Matsumoto
Day 3 We went to Japan Alpine early in the morning. We visited the dam, took the cable car to the snow wall, and spent the whole day there. Then we went to sleep in Toyama.
Day 4 In the morning, we visited Toyama Castle. In the afternoon, we went to Hida Furukawa. In the evening, we went to stay and ride bicycles around Takayama.
Day 5 In the morning, we went hiking in Kamikochi. Then we came back and took a car and walked around Takayama.
Day 6 We left early in the morning to walk around Shirakawako for half a day. In the afternoon, we went to Kanazawa.
We went to Higashi Chaya Districs and then to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
Day 7 In the morning, we visited Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle. In the afternoon, we traveled to Osaka.
Day 8 In the morning, we visited Nara. In the afternoon, we came back to Osaka for shopping before returning tonight.