Kamikōchi

photo by 663highland · CC BY 2.5

photo by lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0

Since 1994 private cars have been banned, and you can only get there by bus or shuttle taxi.

The valley runs between 1,400 and 1,600 metres along the Azusa River, which rises here as the headwaters of the Shinano, the longest river in Japan. From the Kappa-bashi suspension bridge, above the turquoise water, you can see the Hotaka massif. Since 1994 private cars have not been allowed beyond the Kama tunnel, for traffic management and environmental protection: you can only get there by bus and shuttle taxi.

Alpine valley in the Central Mountains National Park, opened up to hiking by the British missionary Walter Weston, who argued for its protection in the late nineteenth century.

ℹ️ Access from Matsumoto: about 1 hr 50 min by train and shuttle bus. Once you arrive, the valley and trails are always accessible, with no ticket.

🚉 Kamikochi · 6 min walk

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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