Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2014

I have always been a firm believer of waking up early while traveling. Why waste time sleeping during these precious traveling hours when you could wake up early, soak up the first rays of the morning sun and take in the beautiful sights that a foreign land has to offer? Especially for a place like Kamikochi in Matsumoto city, Nagano Prefecture, it would be all the more worth sacrificing those extra two to three hours of sleep.

Setting off at 6:30am from Matsumoto station, it is roughly a 40-minute ride on the Alpico line to the last stop, Shinshimashima station for an hour-long bus ride to Kamikochi bus terminal. Upon reaching the station, I was greeted by the beautiful Kamikochi visitor center, where guests can find more information about walking the nature trails along Kamikochi, or even mountain climbing for the adrenaline junkies. However, taking the short 30-second walk to the river, I came face to face with one of the most beautiful sights ever in Japan: the Hokata mountain ranges. Visitors stood along the river banks, cupping their hands to taste the fresh flowing waters and enjoying the breathtaking views on offer. From there, it is a 10-minute walk to the Kappabashi bridge where a few photographers and painters stood, all trying to interpret the beauty in front of them. There are also a few hotels near this bridge, with prices ranging from ¥8500 to ¥20,000 a night.

From Kappabashi bridge, it is a 70-minute walk along the forests of Kamikochi, trudging over narrow paths and man-made planks before arriving at Myojin pond. The area has a rest stop where visitors can grab a bite and it costs ¥300 to enter the Myojin pond area, whose sights are reminiscent of Japanese zen gardens combined with swampy marshlands and erect mountains. Within the area, I crossed the Myojin bridge and walked for another hour before reaching the Tokusawa area, where the available lodging and camping facilities promise some amazing views during your stay. A nearby rest house provides snacks for those feeling peckish, and enjoying a soft serve while lying on the grass admiring the mountains is a real luxury afforded only to those who care to walk that far.

Places worth visiting in Kamikochi are the Yokoo area, which is the start of the Okuhotaka, Yarigatake and Chogatake peaks for the mountain climbers, and the Taisho pond that offers up fantastic views of the Hotaka mountain range in the early morning. However, due to time constraints and bad weather in the afternoon, I was unable to visit these two places, but it was still a fantastic day spent at Kamikōchi. There is always a scenic view to be had at every corner, the snow-capped mountains still viewable even in summer. It’s not a place to be visited only once, and I can guarantee that I’ll be back at this spectacular place another time, possibly scaling the mountain ranges for an even better view of this treasure of Japan. I did manage to capture some other amazing shots. You can check them out here.

For those on the JR East Pass, take the Asama shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano station, and change to the JR Shinonoi line at the latter to Matsumoto station. From there, the round trip ticket from Matsumoto station to Kamikochi bus terminal costs ¥4,550, and takes you on the train from Matsumoto to Shin-Shimashima station, where you have to change to the bus bound for the Kamikochi bus terminal.