The autumn leaves in Kamikochi were breathtakingly beautiful on the coldest day!

The autumn leaves in Kamikochi were breathtakingly beautiful on the coldest day!

Hello, this is Ichiro! 😊 Today, let’s take a stroll through Kamikochi, where the autumn leaves are at their peak. ✌️ Thursday, October 30, 2025 The leaves are just starting to turn color around here, at an altitude of 1,000 meters. I always take the bus from Sawando Bridge, since the parking lot is close to the bus stop. Due to restrictions on private cars, Kamikochi can only be reached by bus. “A request to all.” “If the bus is crowded on your way back, boarding at intermediate stops will be difficult. “If you are planning to explore Taisho Pond, please get off here first. On your way back, please board at Kamikochi Bus Terminal, the first bus stop.” “From Taisho Pond to Kamikochi Kappa Bridge, it takes approximately one hour to walk along the promenade along the Azusa River.” Today’s hiking route is the popular 3-hour route from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond to Dakesawa Marsh. ✌️ There are five rules in Kamikochi! “Don’t pick,” “Don’t give,” “Don’t throw away,” “Don’t bring in,” and “Don’t step on.” I wonder what kind of Taisho Pond we’ll see today? I’m excited. 😃 The temperature this morning was below freezing. It’s the coldest day of the fall so far. 😱 You’ll need winter-like cold weather gear like a jacket, gloves, and a hat. ✌️ Ah, it’s so magical. 😊 A morning mist hangs over the pond, and the trees are covered in white frost. Reflection in the pond 😃 This view can only be seen in the early morning when there’s no wind ✌️ Awesome 👍 Hotaka Mountain Range Our next destination is a spot where we can get a closer look at Mount Yakedake. There were lots of monkeys on the trail along the way. 😃 It was like a zoo. 😊 This trail, located just off Taisho Pond, offers a variety of natural scenery, including marshes, waterside areas, and forests. ✌️ It seems like you can see fish. I don’t know if it’s a yamame trout or a iwana trout. 😅 However, there are no yamame trout in Kamikochi, and it seems that iwana trout can only be found further upstream. 🤔 That’s right! If Kamonji Hut isn’t crowded today, let’s try their local specialty, grilled salted iwana trout! I should probably arrive before noon… 🤔 Kamikochi is located at an elevation of 1,500m. Yake-dake is an active volcano at an elevation of 2,455m. From here, at Kasumizawa-dake Oshidashi, you can see Mt. Yakedake closer than from Taisho Pond. I love this spot, with its combination of the Azusa River, standing dead trees, and Mt. Yakedake. Now, next up is my favorite spot, Tashiro Pond. Tashiro Marsh I was looking forward to seeing the first snowfall on the Hotaka mountain range today, after hearing the news three days ago. The temperature was high during the day, and it seems the snow has melted. 😅 However, this morning was the coldest it’s been this fall. Frost-covered Tashiro Marsh Tashiro Pond The trees are covered in white frost. 😃 Awesome! 😊 Kamikochi is surrounded by mountains, so the sun comes up late in autumn. To get to Kappa Bridge, take the road along the right bank of the Azusa River, lined with hotels. We cross the Azusa River over Tashiro Bridge and Hotaka Bridge. Tashiro Bridge Let’s see the Hotaka mountain range from Hotaka Bridge! Next, we head for the Weston Monument! Weston was a British missionary who introduced the Japanese Alps to the world. Thanks to Weston, mountaineering as a form of recreation, rather than as a religious or spiritual pursuit, became widespread. It’s said that without Weston, the mountain resort of Kamikochi would never have been born. The frost on the larch trees is beautiful 😊 It was below freezing this morning. The dewdrops on the leaves are frozen. Kamikochi Onsen Hotel This hotel and the neighboring Kamikochi Lemeiesta Hotel are the only ones in Kamikochi that use natural hot spring water. The sun is shining and it’s getting warmer. Kamikochi Lemeiesta Hotel is Weston’s regular lodging. The Weston Monument is located near this hotel. It hasn’t rained in a few days, so the Azusa River is beautiful. 👍 Let’s keep going to the Weston Monument! The Weston Monument is set into the rock face. We left Taisho Pond at 8:00, so it took a little over an hour to get here. Kappa Bridge Because the mountains are nearby, the sun hasn’t yet shone on Kappa Bridge. I’d like to see Kappa Bridge in the sun, but I’ll save that for when I return from Myojin Pond. What a beautiful suspension bridge 😊 It takes 50 minutes to reach Myojin Pond via the left bank trail and 70 minutes via the right bank trail. The left bank trail is flat, but the right bank trail has some ups and downs. We head out via the Azusa River left bank trail and return via the Azusa River right bank trail. The left side, viewed from upstream, is called the left bank trail. There’s frost on the railing. As expected, Kappa Bridge doesn’t look as good without the sun shining on it. 😅 Heading to Myojin Pond! Let’s take a look at the Shimizu River, which flows into the Azusa River. The Shimizu River is a clear stream fed by spring water. Shimizu River Gather information at the Kamikochi Visitor Center! Rock Ptarmigan The maple leaves have finished turning red, but the larch leaves are now at their peak, staff said. Apparently, you can still see the maple leaves turning red on part of the road on the right bank of the Azusa River. Konashidaira Campground Let’s leave the trail and head to the banks of the Azusa River! This is a beautiful spot to view the Hotaka mountain range. ✌️ The sun shining on the yellow larch leaves is beautiful. 😊 I love the colorful tent. The Hotaka mountain range is in sight! The yellow larch leaves, the green conifers, the white rock faces of the Hotaka mountain range, and the blue sky. Today, helicopters carrying supplies to the mountain hut have been flying constantly. Colorful tents and yellow larch trees 😊 Awesome👍 Awesome👍 We’re almost at Myojin Bridge. Let’s go down to the riverbank! Myojin-dake A helicopter carrying supplies to a mountain hut Myojin Bridge Icicles had formed on the Chinese mint plant. This phenomenon is only seen during this cold season. After walking for about an hour from Kappa Bridge, Myojinkan came into view. This historic inn is where Weston stayed. Even today, it seems to be a beloved inn for mountaineers. Mt. Myojin is clearly visible from Myojinkan, and many tourists take a break here. Beautiful reflections 👍 Myojin-dake The sign “Hotaka Okumiya Approach.” Yes, this is the approach to Hotaka Okumiya Shrine. If you head from Kappa Bridge along the left bank of the Azusa River toward Myojin Pond, you can reach Hotaka Okumiya Shrine via this approach. ✌️ Kamikochi was once known as Kami-ko-chi (the land where the gods descended). People believed that “the gods descended upon the Hotaka mountain range.” Strangely enough, the water in Myojin Pond never froze, even in the middle of winter. People would come to Myojin Pond in Kamikochi to pray for rain. Before Kamikochi became a mountain resort, people came here to pray for rain. During the Edo period, Kamikochi was also a timber producing area. Kamonji worked cutting down and transporting wood from a young age. Kamonji, who knew the surrounding mountains inside and out, ended up showing Weston around the Hotaka mountain range. And so, Kamikochi became one of Japan’s leading mountain resorts. Why does Kamikochi have so many flat areas despite being a valley? 🤔 In ancient times, Kamikochi was a large lake. What we are walking on now is the bottom of what was once a lake. The fact that anyone can easily walk there, even without mountaineering equipment, has fueled Kamikochi’s popularity. Myojin Bridge is coming into view. Beautiful suspension bridge👍 Myojin-dake in front✌️ The larch trees upstream are losing their leaves. It’s easy to see why people believe that gods descended here😊 0.2km to Myojin Pond, 3.6km to Kappa Bridge. I always come to Kamikochi the day after several days of sunny weather. To see the beautiful, crystal clear Azusa River. ✌️ This path on the right bank of the Azusa River leads to Kappa Bridge. Myojin Pond is located just off this path. The torii gate of the inner shrine of Hotaka Shrine comes into view. This is the hut where Kamonji lived. It’s not crowded, so before praying, why not enjoy some grilled salted iwana trout? Live iwana trout are skewered from the fish tank right in front of you and grilled over a wood-fired hearth. They grill them slowly and vigorously over a strong flame. You can eat the whole thing, from head to tail and bones. It was fragrant and incredibly delicious! 👍 Foreigners might be hesitant to eat it from the head, but it’s definitely worth a try! ✌️ Hotaka Shrine Okumiya Myojin Pond There’s a line at the worship site. Let’s join the line later! Aside from food and restrooms, Myojin Pond is the only place in Kamikochi that charges an admission fee. The 500 yen admission fee apparently goes toward maintaining the natural environment of Myojin Pond. 😊 Wow, the reflections are beautiful. 😃 Myojin Pond, a pond that doesn’t freeze even in the middle of winter at -25°C. It doesn’t freeze because it’s spring water. A helicopter transporting supplies. Trees grow among the many rocks, making it look like a Japanese garden. Filtered groundwater springs up, creating Myojin Pond. Myojin Pond was formed when rocks and soil that had fallen from Mt. Myojin dammed the river. At the summit of the Hotaka mountain range lies a small shrine called Minemiya, the home of Hotaka Shrine. It’s a long, arduous journey to the shrine, so we offer our prayers here. This clear stream flows from Myojin Pond into the Azusa River. A branch is broken. In this area, we were able to see the maple leaves change color, just as we had heard at the Kamikochi Visitor Center. In Kamikochi, the maples change color first, and then a week later, the larch trees turn yellow. But for some reason, it seems that only in this area can you see the maple leaves turn red at the same time as the larch leaves turn yellow. When you think of autumn foliage in Kamikochi, you think of the larch trees turning yellow, but we were lucky enough to see the maple leaves turn red as well. ✌️ The right bank trail has a few more ups and downs than the left bank trail. 0.8km to Myojin Pond, 2.7km to Kappa Bridge. Dakesawa Marsh It’s only about 10 minutes from Kappa Bridge, so even if you don’t want to walk much, why not come here? The standing dead trees create a mystical atmosphere in this marsh. 2.8km to Myojin Pond, 0.7km to Kappa Bridge. Some clouds have appeared! Now, let’s leave Dakesawa Marsh and head back to Kappa Bridge. 0.2km to Kappa Bridge We left Taisho Pond at 8:00, so it took almost five hours. The walking map says it should take three hours, but with breaks, it’ll probably take about five hours. Blue sky and white clouds 😃 The morning started with a hazy mist over Taisho Pond, but the weather was beautiful all day, making for a wonderful walk ✌️ This is the first time I’ve ever experienced such a fantastical and mystical Kamikochi 👍 It would have been even better if we could have seen the snow-capped Hotaka mountain range, but we’ll save that for another time! 😊 The sun was shining perfectly on Kappa Bridge at this time! 👍 Kamikochi was amazing! Mountains that every alpinist dreams of. Now, let’s head to Kamikochi Bus Terminal! It’s a bit of a detour, but enjoy the walk while admiring the yellow leaves of the larch trees along the Azusa River. Kamikochi Bus Terminal Buses generally depart every 30 minutes, but extra buses run whenever the bus is busy. Fully booked. Soon, we’ll be at Taisho Pond. The bus will stop briefly to allow oncoming bus to pass. There are tourists waiting at the bus stop, but the bus is full, so it continues on its way. I’ll come back next time, during the fresh greenery! Thank you for watching this video all the way to the end. See you in the next video! 😊

Today I went to Kamikochi, where the autumn leaves are at their peak.
It was the coldest day of the fall so far, and I was able to see frost, icicles, and the morning mist around Taisho Pond.
The autumn leaves on the larch trees were at their peak. I was also able to see the red autumn leaves of the maples on the right bank of the Azusa River.

I walked the popular route, which took about three hours, from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond to Dakesawa Marsh.
I filmed nonstop at each of Kamikochi’s popular spots.
I hope you can feel like you’re actually walking the trail.

00:00 Opening
01:17 Sawando Bridge – Taisho Pond (view from the car window)
03:30 Taisho Pond
07:21 Monkeys appear on the promenade
11:22 Kasumizawa-dake Oshidashi
13:26 Tashiro Marsh – Tashiro Pond
16:13 Tashiro Bridge – Hotaka Bridge – Weston Monument
23:11 Kappa Bridge
29:59 Kappa Bridge – Shimizu Bridge – Kamikochi Visitor Center
29:21 Spectacular view from Konashidaira Campground
34:17 Descending from the left bank of the Azusa River to the riverbed and overlooking Mount Myojin and Myojin Bridge
36:56 Icicles of the Japanese mint plant – Myojinkan
39:05 Myojinkan – Myojin Bridge – Kamonji Hut
46:38 A specialty of Kamonjigoya: grilled salted char (iwana) over a hearth.
48:40 Okumiya, Hotaka Shrine – Myojin Pond
55:39 Myojin Pond
55:07 Azusa River Right Bank Road, clear stream from Myojin Pond
56:25 Azusa River Right Bank Road, autumn maple leaves
01:00:55 Dakesawa Marsh
01:07:18 Returning to the sunlit Kappa Bridge
01:12:24 Spectacular view of the Hotaka mountain range
01:13:40 To the bus terminal
01:18:10 Bus terminal – Taisho Pond (from the bus window) Passengers unable to board at Taisho Pond

[Date of filming] October 30, 2025

Kamikochi Official Website https://www.kamikochi.or.jp/

Recommended videos
🔴 Fresh Green Kamikochi 2025 https://youtu.be/qUxD-ddK9LA

*Please note that the information in this video may not be 100% accurate.

Shooting date: October 30, 2025

Kamikochi Official Website https://www.kamikochi.or.jp/

Watch more:🔴 Fresh Green Kamikochi 2025 https://youtu.be/qUxD-ddK9LA

*Google Translate was used for the translation. The translation may not be accurate.
*The information in the video may not be 100% accurate.

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