Mountain Holiday Tours – Kamikochi

Kamikochi is a small basin some 1,500 meters above sea level on the upper stream area of the Azusa-gawa River. Walter Weston, a British missionary and mountain climber introduced Kamikochi to the world in the 19th century. Since then many climbers have visited Kamikochi for the mountains and natural beauty.

Kamikochi consists of untouched forests of birch and Japanese larch trees. The Taisho-ike and Myojin-ike ponds are scattered throughout the forest and add beauty to the area not only with their natural clear water, but also by reflections of the high-rising mountain peaks. In the early 20th century, Mt. Yake-dake erupted and dammed the Azusa-gawa River to form the Taisho-ike Pond, The young leaves of birch trees in June that they are described as “light green mist,” and attract many tourists. The foliage is at its peak in October and many visitors travel there to admire its autumn beauty.

The symbol of Kamikochi is the Kappa-bashi Bridge, a 36.6-meter-long and 3.1-meter-wide wooden suspension bridge over the Azusa-gawa River. With the Hotaka Mountain Range rising in front and the volcanic Mt. Yake-dake in the south billowing white smoke, Kappa-bashi is known as one of the most scenic spots in Kamikochi.

This year JTB has 3 new Mountain Tours that travel through Kamikochi.
These tours operate twice a week from Tokyo between April and November. If you are looking for a tour that takes in some of Japan’s natural beauty, talk to us about our new Mountain Holiday Tours.

Mountain Holiday 3-Day Tour of Kamikochi, World Heritage “Shirakawa-go” and Takeyama

Mountain Holiday 3-Day Tour of Kamikochi and Takeyama Kurobe Apline Resort

Mountain Holiday 4-Day Tour of Kamikochi, Takeyama Kurobe Apline Resort and Kanazawa