Nagano ② Japan Alps, Suwa -長野：日本アルプス・諏訪

【Background】Kamikochi is a scenic spot upstream from Azusa River in the southern Hida Mountains in western Nagano Prefecture. It is also part of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park and is designated as a national cultural asset.
*Hiking course: There are areas where sneakers are allowed and areas where trekking shoes are required, so please check in advance!
Hiking course
【Time】3 hours　　
Bus terminal → Kappa Bridge → Myojin Branch → Myojin Pond → Kappa Bridge → Weston Relief → Tashiro Bridge and Hotaka Bridge → Nakanose Park → Bus terminal
【Time】5 hours
Bus terminal → Kappa bridge → Myojin → Tokusawa → Shinmura bridge → Tokusawa → Myojin bridge → Myojin pond → Kappa bridge → Weston monument → Tashiro bridge → Bus terminal
【Points】
・Aki Dake : Day trip mountain climbing is also available. One of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan that can also be enjoyed as a one-day climb.
・Taisho Pond : Standing dead trees create a fantastic scenery.
・Myojin Pond : One of the most popular power spots in Kamikochi
・Kappa Bridge : A symbol of Kamikochi that looks up at the Hotaka mountain range
・Shin Hotaka Ropeway : Aerial walk with a spectacular view of the Northern Alps
【Accommodation】

・Konashidaira Campsite : 10-minute walk from the bus terminal.
　　［admission］Adults 1,200 yen, elementary school students 800 yen (both per person per night, tax included)
・Kamikochi Imperial Hotel : The Kamikochi Imperial Hotel was established in 1933 as Japan’s first full-scale mountain resort hotel.
　　［Access］From Matsumoto Station, take the Alpico Kotsu Kamikochi Line to the last stop, Shinshimajima Station (30 minutes). From Shinshimadzu, take the Alpico Bus for appr. 1hr 5min.
・Couch Potato Hostel: C located in the castle town of Matsumoto.
　　　(It takes about 1.5 hours from Matsumoto to Kamikochi bus terminal.)
【Access to Kamikochi】
Kamikochi is not accessible by car throughout the year.
・Train & Bus from Shinjuku
　　Shinjuku (JR Chuo Line Express Azusa) → Matsumoto / Matsumoto Bus Terminal → Kamikochi Bus Terminal (4 hours 10 minutes)
　　　*Buses from Matsumoto to Kamikochi depart twice a day at 5:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Reservations are required.
　　　*Reservations must be made one month prior to the bus departure date.
・Highway bus (direct) from Tokyo/Shinjuku
　　Tokyo Station→Kamikochi Bus Terminal (1 bus departing at 22:40 and arriving at 5:20)
　　Kamikochi Bus Terminal→Tokyo Station (1 bus leaving at 15:30 / arriving at 20:35)
　　Shinjuku (Basta Shinjuku) → Kamikochi Bus Terminal (2 services departing at 7:15 / arriving at 12:02 and 22:25 / arriving at 5:20)
　　Kamikochi Bus Terminal→Shinjuku (Basta Shinjuku) (2 services departing at 15:00/arriving at 19:47 and 16:10/arriving at 20:57)

・Matsumoto Castle : The symbol of Matsumoto, Nagano. The beautiful black and white castle has a very elegant appearance with the Northern Alps in the background. The castle is the oldest existing five-story, six-story wooden keep in Japan.

・The castle town : planned around the castle walls, and its complex configuration is unique to a castle town, with streets that include “choji-ji” (streets that are intentionally shifted to cross each other) and “kagi-no-te” (hooks that resemble the shape of keys that open locks on old storehouses and other buildings).
・Matsumoto City Museum of Art : The museum is filled with the works of Yayoi Kusama, a world-renowned artist from Matsumoto City (closed on Mondays).

・Lake Suwa : the largest lake in Shinshu. It is filled with abundant water and is loved as a landscape that blends in with the life of the Suwa people, and shows various scenes depending on the season and time of day. Visitors can enjoy walking along the lakeside, cycling, canoeing, and especially the famous fireworks display on summer nights.
・Fireworks :
・Lake Suwa Summer Night Fireworks: July 24-31 and August 16-27, 2022, every night from 20:30 for 10 minutes
・Lake Suwa Festival Lake Fireworks The Legacy : August 1-15, 2022 for 10 minutes from 20:30 every night
　　Free space in the lakeside park (free of charge)
　　Please enjoy the fireworks while observing the following precautions against infectious diseases ; (1) Wear masks (2) Ensure social distance (3) Avoid crowding (4) Restrictions on eating and drinking (eating and drinking are prohibited in principle)
(５)Management of behavior before and after the launch (contact confirmation app “COCOA”)
・Yatsugatake : Stretching across Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures, Yatsugatake is a mountainous highland area stretching approximately 30 km from north to south and 15 km from east to west, and is designated as a national park. It is divided into “North Yatsugatake” and “South Yatsugatake” by the Natsuzawa Pass. In contrast to the rugged rocky ridges of Minami Yatsugatake, Kita Yatsugatake is a gently sloping mountain with many trails through the forest.
・Hiking trails on Kita-Yatsugatake : From the ropeway summit station, there is a walking trail that takes about 30 minutes around the mountain.
［Route］ Ropeway summit station → Tsuboniwa → Kita-Yokodake → Nanatsu Pond → Tsuboniwa → Ropeway summit （4km, 2.5H)
For those who like trekking & can set up camp with proper equipment, 3-day course
・Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway info　
【Access】Take the JR East Japan Chuo Line and get off at Chino Station.
Get off at Chino Station West Exit, Alpico Kotsu Bus Stop No. 2, bound for “Kita Yatsugatake Ropeway” (about 60 minutes).
・Kirigamine : The gently rolling Kirigamine Plateau stretches from Kurumayama to Washigamine. Fuji, the Alps, the Yatsugatake mountain range, and other famous peaks that are the pride of Japan.
【Access】Kamisuwa Station (Alpico Kotsu Bus) → Kirigamine Interchange → Kurumayama shoulder (40 minutes from Kamisuwa Station)
・for hiking courses in Kirigamine →clickhere & Map
・for other trekking courses →click here