Kamikochi Hiking Questions
Sep 4th, 2013, 05:15 PM
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Kamikochi Hiking Questions
Hi everyone. I am now officially just two months away from my 17-day trip to Japan and am very excited. I am planning to spend one day hiking in Kamikochi during the middle of my trip. I will be there on November 13, so two days before Kamikochi closes for the season. As I will be staying in Matsumoto for two days, my plan is to hop a direct bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi early that morning, make a bee line to the Kamikochi visitor center to get maps, hiking suggestions, etc. and then set out. Ideally, I'd like to spend 3-4 hours of easy hiking. If I can make it work, I'd then like to visit the Daio Wasabi farm that same today, before getting back to Matsumoto in time to catch the late afternoon van back to the ryokan.
I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to look into hiring a guide for my Kamikochi hiking or with maps and advise from the visitor center, can I easily do it on my own devices?
2. Is 3-4 hours sufficient?
3. If I get an early start, is it feasible to catch some sort of public transportation to the horseradish farm in the early afternoon? If so, has anyone visited the Daio horseradish farm and is it "worth it"?
Many thanks in advance for the input.
MB
I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to look into hiring a guide for my Kamikochi hiking or with maps and advise from the visitor center, can I easily do it on my own devices?
2. Is 3-4 hours sufficient?
3. If I get an early start, is it feasible to catch some sort of public transportation to the horseradish farm in the early afternoon? If so, has anyone visited the Daio horseradish farm and is it "worth it"?
Many thanks in advance for the input.
MB
Sep 11th, 2013, 08:00 PM
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The road from Matsumoto to Kamikochi is really amazing, and the one on to Takayama is pretty good, too. It's a good trip.
The river-level walks in Kamikochi are pretty easy and well-marked and you won't get lost. There's a crude map here: http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/areamap/
I visited a few years ago. I got off the bus at Taisho Pond (good move) at about 9:15 and hiked from there along a decent path and boardwalks via Taishiro Pond (where a sign said "beware of frequent appearance of a bear") and the true left of the river into the park center and bus terminal. If you are interested in mountaineering history, the Weston Memorial is along the way, over the Taishiro Bridge.
There must have been 50 tour buses in the terminal, but most of the people on them don't venture very far. I booked my bus ride out (I'd come from Takayama and was going to Matsumoto) and had some lunch, then set off further up the river, crossing Kappa bridge and then along the true right of the river. You have to pay to enter the shrine to see Myojin Pond, but it's well worth it. There's a cafe there. I crossed over the Myojin Bridge and went back along the true left side of the river to return to the park center by about 2:45. The last part is a bit tedious. I was able to catch an earlier bus than the one I'd booked, but had to go to the ticket office to make the change.
I was walking fairly slowly (I'm an old guy), taking photos, and I had to wait out some rain at Myojin Pond, so you can probably do most of this in 4 hours.
I have no information on the Wasabi farm.
The river-level walks in Kamikochi are pretty easy and well-marked and you won't get lost. There's a crude map here: http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/areamap/
I visited a few years ago. I got off the bus at Taisho Pond (good move) at about 9:15 and hiked from there along a decent path and boardwalks via Taishiro Pond (where a sign said "beware of frequent appearance of a bear") and the true left of the river into the park center and bus terminal. If you are interested in mountaineering history, the Weston Memorial is along the way, over the Taishiro Bridge.
There must have been 50 tour buses in the terminal, but most of the people on them don't venture very far. I booked my bus ride out (I'd come from Takayama and was going to Matsumoto) and had some lunch, then set off further up the river, crossing Kappa bridge and then along the true right of the river. You have to pay to enter the shrine to see Myojin Pond, but it's well worth it. There's a cafe there. I crossed over the Myojin Bridge and went back along the true left side of the river to return to the park center by about 2:45. The last part is a bit tedious. I was able to catch an earlier bus than the one I'd booked, but had to go to the ticket office to make the change.
I was walking fairly slowly (I'm an old guy), taking photos, and I had to wait out some rain at Myojin Pond, so you can probably do most of this in 4 hours.
I have no information on the Wasabi farm.
