Kamikochi: Little Switzerland in Japan

"Pernah ada turis dari Swiss yang mengirimkan foto di sini kepada temannya dan langsung dibalas 'kamu sudah kembali ke Swiss?' haha," ujar Teddy Yamaishi yang menemani kami selama di Matsumoto, Jepang.

“A tourist from Switzerland once sent a photo of this place to his friend and immediately got reply, ‘are you back to Switzerland?’ haha,” Teddy Yamaishi, our guide in Matsumoto, Japan, said.

Memang pemandangan gunung es, danau biru dan cuaca dingin membuat pikiran saya kembali melayang ke Switzerland, negara yang populer dengan pemandangan serupa dengan yang sedang saya saksikan.

Combination of snow-mountain, blue lake, and the cold weather, again, got me think about Switzerland, a famous country with the similar view like I had right now.

Danau Taisho adalah perhentian pertama kami di Kamikochi, area pegunungan tinggi di Chubu Sangaku National Park. Danau Taisho atau Taisho pond terbentuk dari aliran Sungai Azusa yang dikelilingi pegunungan tinggi yang tertutup salju bahkan di musim panas. Sangat menyenangkan melihat perahu kecil, kehijauan hutan dan tentunya Gunung Nishi-Hotakadake dan puncak Nishiho Doppyo yang tertutup salju.

Taisho Pond was our first stop in Kamikochi, a high mountains area in Chubu Sangaku National Park. It was formed from the streams of Azusa River, surrounded by high mountains that covered with snow even on summer. It’s really exciting seeing a small boat, green forest, and of course Nishi-Hotakadake Mountain with the snowy peak of Nishiho Doppyo.

Kamikochi adalah area yang sangat cocok bagi pecinta alam, saya hanya melakukan trekking pendek dari jalur Teikoku hingga Kappa Bridge, namun trek panjang tersedia melewati hutan pinus dan sisi Sungai Azusa yang indah. Beberapa penginapan yang ada tampak sangat menyenangkan, Hotel Imperial yang berwarna merah ini tampak kontras dengan kehijauan hutan di sekelilingnya. It's gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this, pikir saya saat melewati hotel yang berada di salah satu sisi jalur trekking ini.

Kamikochi was a perfect place for nature lovers. I only did short trek from Teikoku track to Kappa Bridge, but there was a longer trek through the pine trees and the beautiful Azusa River. Some inns caught my eye, like this red Imperial Hotel that so contrast with the green forest around. As I walked through one hotel alongside the trekking track, I told to myself that it’s gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this.

Kami berhenti di Kappa Bridge dan menikmati suasana menyenangkan di sisi sungai. Air sedang surut sehingga saya bisa bersantai di area berbatu sambil menikmati es krim lembut khas Kamikochi. Tidak terasa kami sudah menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam di Kamikochi, feels like I don't wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

We stopped in Kappa Bridge and enjoy the calmness on the river side. When it was low tide I could chill in the rocky area while eating Kamikochi’s soft ice cream. Time flies. Suddenly we realized that we spent hours in Kamikochi but feels like I don’t wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

@marischkaprue - ice cream and snow mountain is one of her fav combination

NOTES:

Where:

Kamikochi berada di Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Jepang.

Kamikochi is located in Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.

to know: Kamikochi dibuka untuk umum pada akhir April hingga 15 November

Kamikochi is opened for public starts from the end of April to 15 November.

 

How to Get There

Matsumoto Access Map

Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Kamikochi dapat diakses dari Matsumoto atau Takayama

Dari Matsumoto: Naik kereta dari Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Dentetsu Line, kereta pertama di pukul 6.35 pagi, kereta berikutnya ada dengan interval waktu sekitar 30 menit hingga 1 jam 20 menit). Turun di Shin-Shimashima Station dan dilanjutkan dengan naik bus ke Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Opsi lain naik bus (direct) dari Matsumoto Bus Terminal (bus berangkat pukul 10.15). Tiket Kamikochi Line dapat dibelu di Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way/ ¥4.550 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 50 menit. Lihat jadwal bus di sini

Dari Takayama: Naik bus dari Takayama Bus Center (bus pertama pukul 7 pagi), transfer di Hirayu Onsen menuju Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/ ¥5.190 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 40 menit.

ps: Japan Rail Pass tidak berlaku untuk rute Kamikochi Line

Kamikochi can be accessed from Matsumoto or Takayama

From Matsumoto: Take a train from Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Denetsu Line, first train at 6:35 a.m., next train will arrive within 30mins to 1hr 20mins). Get off at Shin-Shimashima Station and continued by bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Other option is by taking direct bus from Matsumoto Bus Terminal (departure at 10:15 a.m.). You can buy Kamikochi Line’s ticket at Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way / ¥4.550 return) for about 1hr 50mins. Check the bus schedule here!

From Takayama: Take a bus from Takayama Bus Center (first bus arrives at 7 a.m.), transfer at Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/¥5.190 return) for about 1 hr 40mins.

PS: Japan Rail Pass is not valid for Kamikochi Line route

 

Weather

Suhu di Kamikochi berkisar dari -5°C hingga sekitar 20°C. Namun Kamikochi hanya dibuka pada akhir April hingga November dengan suhu rata-rata: April 5°C, Mei 9°C, Juni 13°C, Juli 16°C, Agustus 18°C, September 14°C, Oktober 6°C, November 1°C.

Temperature range in Kamikochi is at -5°C to 20°C but Kamikochi only opened at the end of April to November with the average temperature: April 5°C, May 9°C, June 13°C, July 16°C, August 18°C, September 14°C, October 6°C, November 1°C.

Akomodasi

Terdapat 15 penginapan yang tersebar di Kamikochi dengan rate per malam mulai dari ¥8.000 hingga ¥116.400

15 inns available in Kamikochi with rate per night starts from ¥8.000 to ¥116.400

Kamonji Goya Lodge: ¥8.000/night. T: +81 263 952418

Tokusawa Lodge: ¥8.000 - ¥10.500/night. T: +81 263 95 2526

Taisyoike Hotel: ¥14.580 - ¥22.680/night. T: +81 263 952301

Kamikochi Imperial Hotel: ¥32.076 - ¥116.424/ night. T: +81 263 952001

More info about Kamikochi on their website here

More info about Matsumoto on their website here

Need information about Matsumoto?

contact: Teddy Yamaishi via yamaishi@matsumoto-tca.or.jp