Kamikochi

Getting Here and Around

No cars are allowed in Kamikochi. Take the Matsumoto Electric Railway from Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima, the last stop. The ride takes 30 minutes and departs once or twice an hour. At Shin-Shimashima Station, cross the road for the bus to Naka-no-yu and Kamikochi. There's also a bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi, departing only twice a day at 8:55 and 10:15 am. The road is closed from around November until April or May. You pay ¥2,400 for both legs of the trip at the start. Up-to-date bus and road information is available at the Matsumoto and Takayama Tourist Offices.

Kamikochi is where the trails for some of the most famed alpine ascents begin; favorite peaks are Mt. Yariga-take and Mt. Hotaka-dake. An invaluable reference is Paul Hunt's Hiking in Japan, since most maps are in Japanese. Planning in advance is essential; climbs range from a few days to a week, and the trails can be crowded in summer.