Kamikochi + Matsumoto

This post is long overdue as I visited Kamikochi in October last year. Follow along as I post about my travel plans and adventures after college!

I have traveled in Japan quite a bit, but have only recently started learning about the more unknown spots of the country. I first saw pictures of Kamikochi through a Japanese TV Show that my grandparents were watching one night. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains and decided that I just had to go. Kamikochi is often referred to as the Northern Japanese Alps. It’s located in Nagano prefecture and only open from April to mid-November. After some research, I learned that one of the most popular times to visit is during the autumn leaves or “koyo”. I got a majority of my information from this guide: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6040.html - if you’re planning to go I highly recommend reading through!

Day 1:

Going directly to Kamikochi from Tokyo can be pretty expensive, especially if you live here and can’t buy any travel passes. We decided to do an early morning bus from Tokyo to Matsumoto and then another bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi. I recommend getting the 2-day free pass, which gives you unlimited access in Matsumoto City, Kamikochi, and Norikura Kogen areas! It’s perfect for a short trip and although pricey, covers the cost of the bus ride to Kamikochi which is already pretty pricey by itself.

The bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi was absolutely beautiful during the autumn. The leaves were yellow, red, and orange and gave you a sense of excitement after riding for 5+ hours on a bus. If you plan to hike, than I recommend getting off at Taisho Pond. You can walk for about 1 hour to the main area of Kamikochi where all of the hotels/ryokans and restaurants are. After arriving in the main area, we ate a delicious lunch and started hiking for the rest of the day!

Although the weather was overcast, the day was still perfect. The autumn leaves colored the pathways and mountains and gave bright accents to the mountains. While the main Kappa Bridge area is breathtaking, its often crowded and filled with people. We ventured out to Myojin Pond where we were greeted with a stunning shrine overlooking a calm lake. The area was secluded and serene. By that time we were done, it was starting to get dark. We headed back to the main area and caught the last bus back! It gets pitch black at night so beware!

We were pretty exhausted but grabbed a great local dinner nearby the station. Initially, my dad recommended an Izakaya to us but unfortunately it was closed for a private event. We found another izakaya close-by which specialized in local matsumoto dishes like horse meat sashimi and “sanzoku-yaki” which is a delicious fried chicken dish.

To end the day, we walked to our guesthouse. On the way there, we were hesitant as the streetlights got dimmer and the area seemed to be outside the center or main area. But to our surprise, the guesthouse was an aesthetically pleasing, trendy hostel. We were greeted once we got there by the staff and had to fill out some info and pay the hotel fees. Along with the bed, they provided us one free drink which could be used at their bar on any alcoholic or soft drink. The interior of the whole place was wooden with nice accents. The beds were really comfy, and most importantly, clean! The place was stocked with a kitchen, bathroom amenities, etc. If I ever go to Matsumoto again, I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Day 2:

Our legs were tired from hiking all day so we decided to explore the city of Matsumoto instead of going back to Kamikochi. The 2-day travel pass we bought included transport in Matsumoto city, so luckily we were able to use it to get around the area! We walked nearby to Matsumoto Castle which I highly recommend. The castle was incredible from outside and is surrounded by a lake. We didn’t pay to go in but the view from outside was definitely worth the trip!

With no plans in mind, we walked around the town and stumbled upon a city painting effort. We ended up spending some time painting the road and helping out the community. For the rest of the day, we walked around some shopping streets and then ended up walking to a supermarket in town to grab some souvenirs and look around.

We were pretty exhausted from all the walking in the past few days we grabbed our bags from the hostel and spent our last hours drinking tea and shopping at the bus station souvenir shops! Matsumoto is also famous for their soba and miso so if you don’t get a chance to try it, pick some up on the way home!