If you are an avid hiker or simply a lover of the outdoors, then this place is definitely one to add to your bucket list. This well preserved national park is a gem that could very well be compared to the New Zealand mountains and Scottish valleys. The clear turquoise-tinted waters and white-grey sands of the Chubu Sangaku National Park compliment the vast mountainous backdrop covered in lush greenery. Do not underestimate the effort it will take to reach this breathtaking landscape especially if you are a tourist based in Osaka or Tokyo.
It took me about 6 hours from the time I left my apartment (near Shin-Osaka) to arrive, standing at the famous Kappa bridge. I would strongly recommend staying a night or two at the many hotels available so you do not end up worrying about time like I did. The picturesque views deserve to be admired at a slower pace. With that said, I would still do the day trip over again, and return to the majestic colors of the forest if I had the chance.
Some of the spots to check out while there include the Taisho Pond, Taishiro Pond, Shinmura Bridge and Kappa Bridge. All of these spots are do-able in a day if you follow the routes with the track provided. Do remember to check the temperature for the day that you are going! You can find it here: (http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/) I made the mistake of not checking. and heading out in my long sleeves, denim jacket and jeggings. I ended up freezing my butt off by 5 in the evening. From October to early May, proper attire such as trekking shoes, wind-breakers and jackets suitable for 5-10°C would be perfect. The trees were not as autumnal as I expected them to be. They were still mainly green, with tints of brown and yellow.
A large number of the hikers were elderly. They were well equipped with their trekking shoes, tracker bells and walking sticks. Don't worry if you do not have the fitness level of the big-time climbers. If you just want that awesome 'OOTD' with the pretty forest backdrop, there are many opportunities to get that within a half hour walk from the Kamikochi bus terminal. Souvenir shops and cafes are also situated near the terminal.
Here are the details of my journey there:
07:26-08:33 Train from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya (Shinkansen)
09:00-11:04 Train from Nagoya to Matsumoto (Limited Express Shinano 5)
11:28-11:58 Train from Matsumoto to Shin-Shimashima (Local line)
12:10 – 13:15 Bus from Shin-Shimashima to Kamikochi bus terminal.
Private vehicles are banned from Kamikochi. You can buy a local train and bus return ticket package. Do remember to check the train times for your journey back! Be sure to arrive early and get your seat number for the bus back. I cannot stress this enough. I missed the bus I had planned to take down the mountain as I did not know I had to get a ticket number!
