If I thought Kiso Valley was beautiful (it still is!), I’ve been swayed by Kamikochi. Left the hotel early in the morning to start my journey towards Kamikochi. From Matsumoto train station, it takes about 2hrs, train and then bus to arrive at Kamikochi Bus Terminal. With temperatures in Matsumoto at 6 degreesC this morning, Kamikochi looked set to be even colder.

The bus ride towards Kamikochi was very scenic, and most of the passengers whipped out their cameras to catch the autumn colours as the bus drove past the mountains. I alighted at Taishoike stop and found the tables and benches, and leaves covered in a thin layer of frost. That’s how cold it was! The crisp, cold morning air in Kamikochi give way to warmer temperatures towards the afternoon. There were already a few bus tour groups there and by the time I started my walk, the place was crowded with bus tour groups starting their walk towards Kappabashi.

The route that I followed was well marked and there are information boards and signs dotted along the route to make sure no one got lost in the area. Kamikochi is so beautiful, that all you have to do is to point your camera in a direction and it would turn out great. There were many elderly people with huge cameras and tripods walking as well.

I left most of the tour groups behind at Kappabashi and forged on to Myojin-ike and then finally for Kamikochi Bus Terminal. The view of the mountains had changed by the time I got back to Kappabashi, with low hanging clouds in front of the mountain. It was really crowded there and at the bus terminal as well. I had to get a queue number for the bus as it tends to get full.

Back in Hotel Buena Vista, I went to the lounge for a cup of tea to warm myself up after a day out in Kamikochi. Dinner was interesting as I got a chance to meet La Cafe Terraza’s head chef, Adachi-san. He speaks good English having worked in New York for a few years. We had a great conversation and I learnt a little bit more about his cooking philosophy and why he comes out of the kitchen to meet and greet customers; cooking for people, as opposed to creating dishes for people to eat.

Tomorrow, I’ll be driving to Itoigawa. Only two days left to the tour!

Join this walk

Today we arrive at Kamikochi, where a hike along the picturesque Azusa River is blessed with lovely views of the surrounding tall mountains, including Nishihotakadake (2909 m), Okuhotakadake (3190 m), Maehotakadake (3090 m) and the active volcano Yakedake (2455 m).

The day starts at the calm Taishoike Pond, where decayed trees standing in the pond provide a special sight. Next, we follow a nature trail through the woods which converges with Azusa River. We walk along the east bank of the river and cross over to the west side at the Kappabashi Bridge. Continuing north takes us to Takezawa Marsh, one of the most scenic areas of Kamikochi. We proceed to the nice Myojinike Pond and visit the adjacent Hotaka Shrine, before crossing the photogenic Myojinbashi Bridge and walking back to the Kappabashi Bridge.

The koyo season usually peaks around mid October here at Kamikochi, so we might only be in time to see the last vestiges of autumn colors. Among the wildlife to be observed are monkeys and various birds.

Date	October 31, 2013
Start Time	10:00
Start	Taishoike Pond
Goal	Kappabashi Bridge
Distance	12 kilometers (about 4 hours)
Terrain	Today's walk is mostly along a flat terrain and requires no hiking experience. However, proper walking shoes are required. Small sections of the route are paved, while others are on elevated boardwalks, nature trails and pebble paths.
Weather	Average daytime high: 11 degrees Celsius (52 degrees Fahrenheit) Average nighttime low: -1 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) Weather Forecast for Nagano
Access	Kamikochi can only be accessed by bus or by taxi from nearby parking lots. When approaching Kamikochi by bus or taxi, get off at Taishoike (大正池) bus stop next to the Taishoike Hotel. More details on how to get to Kamikochi
Lodgings	There are several accommodations available at Kamikochi, which make good bases for today's walk. More alternatives can be found at nearby cities of Matsumoto and Takayama. Search hotels in Kamikochi through Booking.com or Japanican Search hotels in Matsumoto through Agoda, Booking.com or Japanican Search hotels in Takayama through Agoda, Booking.com or Japanican

Into which ocean or sea does the river water of Kamikochi eventually flow?

The correct answer is: Sea of Japan

The river that passes through Kamikochi, the Azusa River, is an upper stream of the Shinano River which eventually flows into the Sea of Japan. However, since the Sea of Japan is part of the Pacific Ocean, answer 1) is also considered correct.

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