matsumoto hike

Hello,

Me and my husband (26 and 31) are going to visit matsumoto area for 2-3 days in mid Oct and would like to know if there is any recomended hike (1-2 days) that we can take? how much time does it cost? recommended accommodation?

thank you, Lital

Although it can be crowded (especially on weekends), I recommend Kamikochi:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6040.html

Kamikochi is definitely the place to go for serious hiking. It's very popular for foreign visitors and people of Japan as well. Kamikochi can be reached from Matsumoto by bus and train in about 1.5 hr.
http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/

If you have extra time in Matsumoto, I would suggest another destination: the Daio Wasabi Farm near Hotaka.
http://www.daiowasabi.co.jp/i-map.htm


Hotaka is reached by 26 min. JR from Matsumoto. The farm is 2 km from Hotaka, about 40 min walk through lovely country road. We didn't walk and instead rent a bike. The farm, the largest wasabi farm in Japan, is enjoyable for walking through the riverbank with a windmill and the water-filled fields.
Admission to the farm is free and you can sample wasabi tea, wasabi milk, wasabi ice-cream and any other things you can think of with wasabi.

For a less "bush" hike you might like the Old Edo Rd. walking trail e.g.from Narai to Magome and visit inns along the way.