Kamikōchi

Kamikochi is a 15km-long valley in the heart of the Northern Alps, accessible only by bus (private cars are banned). The crystal-clear Azusa River flows through the valley beneath 3,000m peaks, with Kappa Bridge offering one of Japan's most iconic mountain views. Easy walking trails wind through old-growth birch and larch forests, passing Taisho Pond (formed by a volcanic eruption in 1915) and the Myojin Pond shrine. The valley opens mid-April to mid-November and draws serious hikers and nature lovers.