Recommended to visit at a slightly different time of the year! Kamikochi in Late Autumn 【Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

  • Nagano
  • Sightseeing
Kamikochi

Kamikochi, a place overflowing with nature

Kamikochi is one of Nagano Prefecture's representative tourist destinations and one of Japan's leading mountain resorts. Located at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level, Kamikochi is surrounded by famous peaks such as Mt. The Azusa River flows through the center of the resort, and the Kappa Bridge, Myojin Pond, Tashiro Marsh, and Taisho Pond across the Azusa River are the main attractions of the area.

Late autumn in Kamikochi is also a good time to visit!

Many people visit Kamikochi in spring, summer, and autumn when the mountains are ablaze with green, but I would like to recommend a visit in late autumn, when the leaves are almost finished changing colors.
This time, in early November 2022, I walked the route from the bus stop in front of the Imperial Hotel, across the Tashiro and Hotaka bridges, past the Weston Monument, and to the Kappa Bridge, and I would like to tell you how it went.

Tashiro Bridge and Hotaka Bridge

The lightly snow-capped peaks of the Hotaka mountain range rise in the background, creating a view of great depth.
The Azusa River is crystal clear all the way to the river bottom.

Weston Monument

After crossing the Tashiro and Hotaka bridges and passing in front of the Kamikochi Onsen Hotel and the Kamikochi Lumiester Hotel, the Weston Monument comes into view. Walter Weston, an English pastor who stayed in Japan from 1888 to 1895, is said to have walked the mountains of Hotaka during his stay in Japan, bringing modern mountaineering awareness to Japan and triggering the formation of the Japan Alpine Club. The Weston Monument was created in 1937 to celebrate Weston's 77th birthday, and was re-hung in 1965.
Weston Monument
Mt. 600 and the Azusa River flowing at the foot of the mountains.

Kappa Bridge

The Kappa Bridge can be seen in about 15 minutes' walk from the Weston Monument. The Kappa Bridge is a symbol of Kamikochi, and is often seen in pictures and videos introducing Kamikochi. The first bridge was built in 1891 (Meiji 24), and it has been replaced four times since then.
From the Kappa Bridge, visitors can see Mt. Hotaka and other peaks in the Hotaka mountain range upstream and Mt. The magnificent scenery is breathtaking, but the view from the terrace of the Hotel Shirakaba-so in Kamikochi, located on the side of the Kappa-bashi Bridge, is also recommended. The view of Mt. Hotaka directly in front of you is truly breathtaking.

Although the autumn leaves are almost at the end of their season, you can enjoy the view with fewer people. It is also the time of year when the mountains of the Hotaka mountain range can be seen lightly capped with snow. Even on a clear day, it can be a bit chilly, so please dress warmly.
The view from Kappa-bashi bridge.
A magnificent view from near the terrace of Hotel Shirakaba-so in Kamikochi.
Kamikochi】Official website
We recommend that you book your stay in Kamikochi with " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package "!
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