Kamikochi in the Northern Japanese Alps of Nagano is a place filled with gorgeous mountains, and is especially stunning during the Fall and Autumn months of September, October and November. But have you wondered what it actually looks like during this time? Read on to find out.

4 min read

• What is Kamikochi? 

• How to get to Kamikochi

• Where to stay in Kamikochi

• What’s Kamikochi like in Fall and Autumn?

What is Kamikochi?

Kamikochi is a popular resort area in Nagano Prefecture. Situated high up in the Japanese mountains, it’s considered one of Japan’s most beautiful places. From Kamikochi, you’ll be surrounded by imposing mountains such as Nishihotakadake, Okuhotakadake, Maehotakadake and Yakedake, the latter being an active volcano.

Through the boardwalks crossing the Azusa River, you can visit many pretty ponds in Kamikochi such as Taisho Pond, Tashiro Pond and our favourite, Myojin Pond.

How to get to Kamikochi

There are many ways to get to Kamikochi, depending on where you’re coming from.

Matsumoto

From Matsumoto, take the Matsumoto Electric Railway from Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima Station. This will take 30 minutes. Then, take a bus to Kamikochi from Shin-Shimashima Station, which will take about 1 hour. There are also occasional direct busses going from Matsumoto Bus Terminal straight to Kamikochi. A one-way ticket costs 2500 yen, while a round trip ticket is 4650 yen.

Takayama

From Takayama, take a Nohi bus from Takayama Bus Station to Hirayu Onsen Bus Station. This will take approximately 1 hour, and cost 1600 yen, with one bus leaving every hour. When you reach Hirayu Onsen Bus Station, take another bus to Kamikochi. That journey will take about 25 minutes, and cost 1180 yen one way or 2090 yen for a round trip ticket. Buses depart twice every hour. 

Tokyo

The company Alpico runs bus services between Tokyo (either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station) and Kamikochi. The trip will take about 5-7 hours, and prices will vary but can cost you up to 7000 yen.

Kyoto and Osaka

Because Kamikochi is so popular with tourists, it’s possible to take an overnight bus from Osaka or Kyoto to Kamikochi. The duration can take up to 8 hours and cost up to 9000 yen, depending on the bus company running the service.

For more information on how to get to Kamikochi, we recommend you check out Japan Guide’s page on Kamikochi.

RELATED: Inwangsan Hike Guide, Day Trip to Seoraksan National Park from Seoul, Guide to Alpensia Ski Resort

Where to stay in Kamikochi

Hotels in Kamikochi

There are a handful of hotels within Kamikochi, including Hotel Shirakabaso, Gosenjaku Hotel, Taishoike Hotel and Kamikochi Lemeiesta Hotel.  These hotels book out fast in advance, especially during the Japanese Summer months and during October for the peak of the foliage season. If you want to stay in Kamikochi, book our accommodation very early, and be prepared to pay quite a lot as a lot of these hotels are very expensive (we’re talking about 800USD per night in some cases).

Hotels in Hirayu Onsen

To save money, we stayed at the small onsen town of Hirayu Onsen in the Okuhida Onsen region. There are plenty of ryokan here – some small, some very large, so you are more likely to find something within your budget by staying here. From Hirayu Onsen, we took a bus from the bus centre to Kamikochi. They depart pretty frequently.

We stayed at a property called Tsuyukusa and can’t complain about it. The rooms were clean and tidy, the property was very close to the bus centre, and the upstairs onsen was great. We would highly recommend staying here.

To book a stay at Tsuyukusa, click here.

Other hotels in Okuhida

The other onsen towns in Okuhida are less close to Kamikochi, but you still might be able to find connections to Kamikochi. These towns are Shin-Hirayu Onsen, Shin-Hotaka Onsen, Fukuji Onsen and Tochio Onsen.

What’s Kamikochi like in Fall and Autumn?

In Fall and Autumn, Kamikochi’s colours will turn slightly brown and yellow. This will provide an even more beautiful backdrop to Kamikochi’s stunning ponds, bridges and mountains.

Let us take you through some of the gorgeous sights you might see in Kamikochi.

Kappa Bridge

Kappa Bridge is the main bridge you’ll see when you enter Kamikochi, and is a great place to take the ‘quintessential’ shot of Kamikochi that you would find on Google and many guide books. 

Taisho Pond

Taisho Pond is one of the prettiest ponds in Kamikochi, and is the pond where the water is perhaps the bluest.

Tashiro Pond

Tashiro Pond is a small pond, and one of the best spots to see Kamikochi’s autumn colours.

Myojin Bridge

Myojin Bridge is the bridge you would cross to access the gorgeous Myojin Pond.

Myojin Pond

Myojin Pond is perhaps Kamikochi’s most beautiful attraction, featuring a shrine and a stunning large pond.

Takezawa Marsh

Takezawa Marsh is an area of wetlands that you can easily pass through from the Kappa Bridge and Visitor’s Centre area.

Walking around Kamikochi

There are other areas of Kamikochi that aren’t necessarily ‘attractions’, but still so pretty nonetheless.

Have you visited Kamikochi? What time of the year did you go? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!