Japan 🇯🇵 – INCREDIBLE Kamikochi in Central Japan Alps (Part 3) | Japan Travel Guide

My travels in Japan continue as I hop back on the Japan Rail to travel to the central Alps of Japan. I make Matsumoto as my home base for a few days to take day trips to Nakatsugawa and hike the incredibly scenic Kamikochi Highlands. Happy New Year Everybody!

Previous Japan Travel:
Part 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c30F5Ou-4ZY&list=PLaR9vtyA7CFp5s3B9Fui4iGxVGbE0iEca&index=1
Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC-7l7Z_Vck&list=PLaR9vtyA7CFp5s3B9Fui4iGxVGbE0iEca&index=2

Japan Travel Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaR9vtyA7CFp5s3B9Fui4iGxVGbE0iEca

00:00 Intro
00:34 Matsumoto
01:05 Nakatsugawa
02:12 Kamikochi
05:15 Outro

Feel free to check out some of my other videos for travel tips, ideas, and overall impressions of the country I’m in!

#LeoDoesLife #Japan #Travel

Wrapping up my time in Japan’s Kanazawa  and Takayama historical districts,   I hopped on the Japan Rail once again  to travel through the central Alps of  Nagano towards beautiful Kamikochi. My home base was Matsumoto, a medium-sized  city known for its thriving arts scene,   museums and surrounding mountains. It’s home to  

Japan’s oldest surviving castle, nicknamed  the “Crow Castle” due to its dark exterior.  It has quite a long, tumultuous history,   and is easily one of the most  photographed structures in the region. I wanted to explore a few smaller  towns in the mountains, so I took  

Another train heading 2 hours southwest to the historic feudal town of Nakatsugawa.   Similar to Takayama, it has its old  streets and traditional buildings,  but felt much more toned down  when it comes to attractions.   I was also one of the few  people exploring this less- 

Visited town. I will say that Nakatsugawa does  not shy away from confectionary. There is so   much candy being sold it made my head spin. There’s a definitely a good mix of outdoor  activities to be found outside the city,   but lightning and heavy fog made me change my plans. Which  

I didn’t mind since this was just a day  trip and overall, I do recommend stopping  by this quaint, little town if  you’re passing through the area. The following day, after the storm  had passed, I made the early morning   trip up to the incredible Kamikochi Highlands, just west of Matsumoto.  

To get there, you have to board this  colorful train from Matsumoto Station  and head to Shimashima Station. From  there, buy a separate bus ticket,   which might feel a little cramped, but takes you on a scenic one-hour ride   though alpine lakes and valleys to  the start of the hike in Kamikochi.

And what a way to get started. A cascading   river reflects some of the early  colors of fall of the foothills,  and out in the distance is where one of  the tallest mountains in Japan is waiting. The trek out is mostly flat, with plenty  of viewpoints and stops to take in the  

Sights and sounds. It’s suitable for all fitness levels and easy to   navigate. There are supposed bears in  the region, with a few so-called “bear  bells” put out to alert any in the area.  It’s a wild area after all but I was a little   disappointed I didn’t get to spot any wildlife.

There’s a reason Kamikochi is sometimes  referred to as the “Japanese Yosemite   Valley.” The views of granite mountains and emerald-colored   river are absolutely breathtaking. Each  step is worth it’s weight and you really  get an overwhelming sense of pure revitalization. Kamikochi is only open from  late-April till about mid-November  

And as the seasons shift, I truly recommend visiting this unique place several times a year. It was one of the places that stood  out to me during my time in Japan,   and I look forward to returning once again  to able to camp out under the stars of  this captivating mountainous region.

Sadly, it was time to move on and  hop on the train to continue to   my next destination. For my next installment,  I visit one of the most sacred and symbolic  regions in all of Japan. Can you guess what it is?

Mount Fuji will be the main focal point  and I am looking forward to showing all   the insanely scenic spots to explore around the mountain. I want to take a moment and say a quick thank  you to everyone who has followed along with me. 

I do this not only as a passion, but to hopefully  pass on information to make travel even more   accessible to others. Wishing everyone happy holidays  and I’ll see you next year.