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visit to Kamikochi 2005/5/7 19:43
I am planning to visit Kamikochi this summer and want to do some mild hiking around that area for a few days. Any suggestion on what might be nice trails (for 2-3 hours)?

Also, I have heard that accommodation is expensive in Kamikochi, does anyone have some cheap suggestions? Another alternative is that I find accommodation somewhere else and then travel to Kamikochi for the hiking. In this case where would be a convenient nearby town (convenient means good connections with public transport) with cheap accommodations?
Since kamikochi and the Japan Alps are popular sites of visit for foreigners in Japan, I would really appreciate some advice from people who have visited this place before.
by sandra  

kamikochi 2005/5/8 10:41
Hello Sandra,

I love Kamikohchi and am very glad to hear plan to visit Kamikochi.
Sometimes I visited small travel lodge named Penshon-Shirufurei, at the Sawando. We cannot go to the Kamikochi by car, but can go there by bus. The lodge located at the public car park to change bus to the Kamikohchi area. You can go there by bus from Matsumoto station Or you can use Highway bus from Shinjyuku to kamikoch.
I like visit Kamikohchi during March, because I can see good Taishoike-pond and Japan Alps with snow. The lodge owner can advice any guest to go to Japan Alps during all seasons.

The lodge owner born and grown up at the area. He knows the area very well. But I do not know he can speak English well or not. Usually some collage students stay and help the lodge. I hope they can speak.
The fee to stay will be about 8000yen, this price is standard in Japan.
And you can gather information using Nagano Pref. homepage.

Some web site to visit;
Nagano Prefecture info:http://www.nagano-tabi.net/English/
Silflay homepage:http://www.icon.pref.nagano.jp/usr/silflay/

My favorite areas to go hiking are Norikura mountain, Yakedake-mountain, Karesawa. If you want to light hiking visit Myojin-pond from Kamikohchi bus station takes 1-2 hour walk.


Good Luck
by Hiro rate this post as useful

some more questions, Hiro 2005/5/10 08:37
Thank you for your information, Hiro. Sawando seems indeed a good place to base while visiting Kamikochi. About the pension you mention, if I do not speak Japanese, how can I make a reservation? There is no photos on their webpage, can you tell me how is their bath? Is it an onsen bath? If yes, does the pension have an open-air bath too?

The areas you mentioned for hiking (Norikura mountain, Yakedake-mountain, Karesawa)sound interesting to me too, but do you know the Kanji of these areas. I find it easier to check out travel information if I know the Kanji since most of the information is in Japanese.

Thanks once again.
by sandra rate this post as useful

info for your questions 2005/5/18 05:50
Hi Sandra,

Reservation: You can send mail for reservation to the Shirufurei.
mailto:silflay@icon.pref.nagano.jp


Bath:I think it is Onsen bath and not open air. It is garavel bath, bath with pea gravel
If you want to enjoy open bath Nakanoyu onsen seems good. You can enjoy the bath paying 700 yen. The cost to stay will be expensive, 10650 yen or more.
http://www.mcci.or.jp/www/nakanoyu/HTML/top.htm

kanji information:
I know kanji but I'm not sure you can display those on your pc.
I'll try: Norikura mountain:æˆÆ or æˆÆŠx Yakedake:ÄŠx Karasawa:Ÿ¿‘ò
Karesawa is a base to climb Maehotaka mountain(‘O•ä‚)
If you cannot see Kanji change IE setting using view-encoding-shiftJIS

I wonder you can get Japanese web site with Japanese serch string, but you cannot get information because cannot read description.

Hope enjoy Japan
by Hiro rate this post as useful

Kamikochi and Matsumoto 2006/8/25 10:49
I wish to visit Kamikochi and Matsumoto in early November. I intend to spend two days with an overnight stay in Matsumoto, preferrably with onsen facility. All I know is that a bus service is available in Shinjuku. Can anyone arrange an itinerary for me with information on where to stay and what to see please. I'll be staying at Ikebukuro.
by TW rate this post as useful

... 2006/8/26 06:54
How to travel between Tokyo and Matsumoto:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6053.html

How to travel from Matsumoto to Kamikochi:
http://www.alpico.jp/access/route_k/honsen/index_e.html
by Uji rate this post as useful

details 2006/8/27 02:27
Thanks Uji for the information. My plan now is to take a morning bus from Shinjuku to Matsumoto city and visit the scenic places there for the rest of the day. Then I will visit Kamikochi the next morning using bus service and return to Shinjuku in the afternoon. Would there be a direct bus service from Kamikochi to Shinjuku?

Also, how can I reserve an inexpensive business hotel room near the Matsumoto station via internet. Can you recommend any links for that.

by TW rate this post as useful

... 2006/8/27 07:13
Would there be a direct bus service from Kamikochi to Shinjuku?

Yes, there are two such direct buses, leaving Kamikochi at 14:00 (daily from 4
26 to 11/4) and 16:00 (daily from 4/29 to 5/7 and 7/15 to 10/9).

The one way journey takes 5 hours and costs 8,500 Yen.

Here are the details in Japanese:
http://sawayaka.alpico.jp/kamikochi/route.html

Also, how can I reserve an inexpensive business hotel room near the Matsumoto station via internet. Can you recommend any links for that.

http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/
by Uji rate this post as useful

Driving question 2007/3/1 13:48
Hi,
I am wondering is it possible to self drive from Matsumoto to Takayama by road 158 during April 13-16, 2007? Is there many thing to do and see during that period since the road to Kamikochi will be open April 24? And is it possible to shop around for the hotel/ryokan with good outdoor onsen without making reservation in advance?
Thank you
by jack rate this post as useful

... 2007/3/3 17:34
I am wondering is it possible to self drive from Matsumoto to Takayama by road 158 during April 13-16, 2007?

Yes, it is possible. I did it last year around that time.

Is there many thing to do and see during that period since the road to Kamikochi will be open April 24?

There are several hot spring resorts along the way. And the scenery is quite spectacular.

And is it possible to shop around for the hotel/ryokan with good outdoor onsen without making reservation in advance?

I don't recommend it. Not even if you have good Japanese language skills.
by Uji rate this post as useful

to Jack 2007/3/3 21:14
We drove last summer from Matsumoto to Takayama (and beyond). Check out Shirahone, it's a famous onsen resort in the mountains opposite the entrance to Kamikochi. There are about 15 onsen hotels/ ryokans up there (less than 15 mins by car from Sawando). The waters are famous for their natural milkiness (no smell) and it is quiet up there and the air is really fresh. If you should go, don't miss out on the public onsen which is right next to a rushing river. Even with so many hotels to stay at I wouldn't go as far as to say you will be guaranteed a room but I'll stick my neck out and say the chances are not bad as long as it is during the week and not close to Golden week. There's a tourist info hut at the entrance to Shirahone with displays and telephone no. of all the hotels. We stayed at the Ebisuya ryokan hotel (nice and not expensive) last August and we telephoned on the morning of our arrival and they had a room.
by mthk rate this post as useful

Kamikochi; Matsumoto/Takayama April 2007 2007/3/4 11:52
For lodging in Kamikochi, you might try Nishi Ito Ya, which has an English website.
http://www.nishiitoya.com/ns-eng/eng-home/eng-index.html
They have regular rooms but also dormitory-style accomodation for people on a budget. I have communicated via e-mail in English with them before; no problem. We stayed in a regular room with meals; nothing luxurious but spotless and very friendly.
Hiking trails are well-marked in Romaji and kanji. There is info available at the visitor's center. There are many many hiking lodges around there for meals and lodging; you can look at the Kamikochi websites
http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/
http://www1.neweb.ne.jp/wa/kamikochi/
though of course they are in japanese - you can try a web-base translator for some funny but still comprehensible results.

Driving between Matsumoto and Takayama would be fine in April, though you (who posted this question?) will be arriving in the middle of the Spring festival. Crowded in town.
by Spendthrift rate this post as useful

Drive from Nagano to Takayama in Dec 2007/10/13 02:34
1) Is it possible to drive Road 158 from Nagano to Takayama in Dec?

2) Will the 158 road be closed during Dec?
3) How long will it take to drive?
4) How about the road from Takayama to Shirakawago, will the driving road be closed in Dec?
by Cyn rate this post as useful

... 2007/10/13 07:13
1) Is it possible to drive Road 158 from Nagano to Takayama in Dec?

Yes, aside the fact that Route 158 connects Takayama with Matsumoto. From Matsumoto to Nagano, you will have to take a different route.

2) Will the 158 road be closed during Dec?

No, it is open around the year. You will need to use the toll-tunnel (750 yen).

3) How long will it take to drive?

About 2 to 2.5 hours.

4) How about the road from Takayama to Shirakawago, will the driving road be closed in Dec?

Route 158 between Takayama and Shirakawago seems to be open around the year. You may need to use the expressway between Hida-Kiyomi and Shokawa. Route 360 seems to get closed during winter.
by Uji rate this post as useful

Kamikochi 2007/10/13 16:36
For the benefit of people wishing to visit Kamikochi and searching the website:
We took the afternoon bus from Takayama for a three day stay at Kamikochi. The first night we stayed at the relatively new Taishoike Hotel and that was really good. It was not cheap at about 18000 yen pp but that included a nice dinner and breakfast. The view was spectacular: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2199690570037002407jfxjRQ
The second day we walked down the valley floor to Tokusawa area where we stayed at the Tokusawa Lodge which was rustic but recommended: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2911412290037002407qFcWWk
The walk is easy and it took us about 4 hours but that was because we spend a lot of time taking photos and I think it could easily be done under 3 hours. The Lodge had to be reserved via the Matsumoto tourist office and can be done via email.

The famous Kappa Bridge is sort of boring and very busy, but there are some nice areas around that area that are certainly worth visiting.

Please check out my albums to get an impression of the Kamikochi scenery: http://travel.webshots.com/album/560781043cagidt
http://travel.webshots.com/album/560886481JgtSGW?start=84
by Kappa rate this post as useful

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