Nagano Prefecture

Japan is a nation supremely blessed with its fair share of dramatic scenery. From the sandy beaches and deep blue oceans of Okinawa, by way of the high mountain peaks of the Honshu, and right up to the devastating natural parks of Hokkaido, there is beauty everywhere you turn. However, due to the extreme weather that Japan experiences throughout the year, many of these places are not accessible at all times, meaning that when you can get to them, you really should make the effort. One such place is Kamikochi. About Kamikochi Found in the Northern Alps of Nagano and within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is a popular hiking resort that is rightly known for its spectacular views and diverse wildlife. ‘Discovered’ by the British missionary, Walter Weston (1860-1940), who helped to popularize mountaineering in Japan as a pastime, Kamikochi is a plateau of about 15 kilometers long in the Azusa Valley, between the 3,190m Mt. Hodokadake and the 2,455m active volcano Mt. Yakedake. Despite its proximity to such high peaks, the plateau is relatively flat, which makes it an ideal walking destination for even the most casual of explorer. Perhaps the feature that Kamikochi is best known for…