Kamikochi (上高地)
Kamikochi is a popular sight-seeing destination for its good views of the nearby Northern Alps, and its walking trails along the crystal clear Azusa River (梓川). For the hard-core mountain climbers it is also the starting point to several of the main Northern Alps peaks.
Kamikochi can be reached either by direct express bus from Tokyo, or travelling to Matsumoto (松本) first, then change to the Kamikochi railway line, and at the Shinshimashima (新島々駅) terminal change to bus.
For our trip, direct bus was already sold out; and the second option requires getting to Matsumoto early – but the earliest possible time of arrival would still be nearly 10 am (requiring taking the Shinkansen – expensive!).
Instead, I came up with another plan – taking night bus on the previous night to Matsumoto, arriving after midnight, and stay in a cheap hotel. With that, we were able to make the 8 am train on the Kamikochi rail, and also cheaper overall.
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- Kamikochi line (上高地線)
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- Arriving at the Kamikochi Visitor Centre by bus.
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- This is the signature view of Kamikochi.
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- Kappa-bashi (河童橋)
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- Walking along the Azusa River (梓川). We took the route to the south-west direction first, towards Taisho-ike, then returned to Kappa-bashi.
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- Amazingly clear water
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- Tashiro pond wetland (田代池湿原)
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- Fish almost looks like floating in mid-air.
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- Taisho-ike (大正池)
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- Admiring the clear water again
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- Greeted by ducks while taking a break near Kappa-bashi.
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- To the east side now, towards Myojin-ike. Lush green aqatic plants.
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- Fish cage in the river next to a small restaurant. You can order grilled fish there and it would be fresh!
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- Seeing the Myojin-ike pond requires an admission fee, as it is part of the Hotaka Shrine.
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- Back to the restaurant area in Kappa-bashi. I had wanted to have this Gelato, but it was closed by the time we came back.
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- The day had been a bit cloudy. This was taken while we were on the bus leaving Kamikochi – only at that time we had a clear view of the mountains.
Norikurakogen Onsen (乗鞍高原温泉)
We took the last bus of the day bound for the Norikurakogen Onsen area, where we would be staying for the night. It’s an over one hour ride through winding mountain roads. Most people got off at Shirahone Onsen (白骨温泉) (literally “white bone onsen”, what an intriguing name!), which is about half way. It is more famous (and accommodation more expensive), but without being too particular, Norikurakogen also has similar kind of milky-coloured onsens, though it is somewhat further away.
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- Bus stopping at Shirahone-onsen (白骨温泉)
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- This is our stay – Kofujiso (湖藤荘), a small ryokan (5 rooms?) in the Norikura-kogen Onsen (乗鞍高原温泉) area.
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- A feast for the night – the grilled fish was excellent.
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- The indoor onsen (I took the picture before removing the planks!). Outdoor onsen will be for tomorrow…