Kamikochi Valley Floor Walk

The Kamikochi Valley Floor Walk follows the Azusa River through a highland basin at 1,500 m in the Northern Alps, Matsumoto City, Nagano. Private vehicles are barred beyond the Taisho Pond gate, so access is by the Alpico Bus from Shinshimashima station or Matsumoto, arriving at the Kamikochi Bus Terminal beside the visitor center. From there, a flat gravel-and-boardwalk path follows the river past Kappa Bridge, Myojin Pond, and Tokusawa, with almost no elevation gain over the full 10 km round trip. The route is largely shaded by beech and larch forest along the riverbank, with open views of Mount Hotaka and Mount Yake at several clearings. Boardwalks cross marshy sections near Myojin Pond, where the trail narrows and can be slick after rain. Most day visitors turn around at Myojin Pond (about 6 km round trip) or push on to Tokusawa for a longer outing; the full valley continues toward Yokoo for those connecting to Northern Alps ascents. Drinking water and restrooms are available at the visitor center, Myojin lodge, and Tokusawa lodge, so hikers rarely need to carry more than 1 liter. Weather changes quickly in the basin, and the surrounding peaks trap cloud cover by early afternoon, so an early start is advised. The valley closes to vehicle and bus traffic from mid-November through late April due to snow.