Walking Around Kamikochi

May 20 | Evan | No Comments |

When visiting Kamikochi, you will surely visit and get great photos of the famous sightseeing spots like Kappabashi, Myojin Pond and Taisho Pond, but also just by walking around the trails you will find spectacular scenery, nature and perhaps even some animals.  With my limited time in Kamikochi, I was always rushing from one place to the next and while I saw lot’s of places I wanted to stop and take some photos, or come back for different lighting, I didn’t have the necessary time.  When going to Kamikochi, I would highly recommend staying at least 3 days to see and photograph everything you want to and then to return to the places you need more time at.   Takezawa Marsh and Tashiro Pond are also worth checking but just walking from scenic spot to the next, you can find your own special part of Kamikochi to create art at or just to enjoy the scenery and fresh air.  Here are a few more of my favorite photos from just walking around, most of them snapshots in between the goals I was on my way to:

Kamikochi | Taisho Pond

May 19 | Evan | No Comments |

I already introduced you to the beautiful Myojin Pond in Kamikochi and now it is time to show you photos Taisho Pond. Like Myojin Pond, Taisho Pond is about an hour walk from Kappabashi, but in the opposite direction. So if you were to talk from Myojin Pond to Taisho Pond, it would take you about 2 hours to hike there. Of course, those walking times are not taking into account the numerous times you will want to stop along the way to take photos of the beautiful nature scenery or perhaps the wild animals like monkeys you could encounter along the way! In any case, back to Taisho Pond… I place I could have spent my entire stay as it is absolutely beautiful and every single photo seems to come out great. I would have loved to get get some photos with more clouds or fog, but really, Taisho Pond makes it hard to take a bad photo!

 One nice thing about Taisho Pond is that there is a bus stop there and you could even take a taxi from the bus terminal the pond, but you should walk at least one way, so you don’t miss some photo opportunities like this on the nature trail.  There is also a small gift shop and restaurant where the bus stops for Taisho Pond, which is as nice as place as any to relax with a cold beverage and enjoy the view.  If you couldn’t tell already, Taisho Pond is probably my favorite place in Kamikochi!  The only thing I don’t like about taking photos here was it was way to hard to pick my favorite photos to share!

Kamikochi | Myojin Pond

May 18 | Evan | No Comments |

Myojin Pond is about an hours walk from Kappabashi and the Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Starting from Kappabashi, you can walk along the right or the left side of the Azusa River to get to Myojin Pond with the right side being more of a path and the left side more of elevated wooden platform.  Photography wise, the left was more interesting for me, but there are photo opportunities just about everywhere in Kamikochi, so why not walk both sides. The bridge I included with these photos is very close to Myojin Pond, so I just through it in this gallery.  I went to Myojin Pond in the afternoon and the water was almost perfectly still and even more perfectly clear.  Not sure I’ve seen a pond or lake with water this clear…Besides the other ponds and rivers in the Kamikochi area of course!  There was a small entrance fee to get it, but it is certainly worth it!  I would have loved to try and come back early in the morning to get some fog or some different clouds, but my time in Kamikochi was limited to and I had more places to see!

 

Kamikochi | Kappabashi (Kappa Bridge)

May 17 | Evan | No Comments |

Kappabashi is an icon of Kamikochi and centrally located in the area.  It’s about a 10 minute walk or so from the Kamikochi Bus Terminal and an hour or so walk from either of the famous ponds, Myojin Pond or Taisho Pond.  Kappabashi, along with the bus terminal, are the most crowded areas as it is centrally located and there are a lot of places to stay close by along with the only restaurants/giftshops in Kamikochi.  Convenience wise, I would recommend staying close to this area, but if you are looking to avoid crowds, then stay someplace else….  It is also a very popular area for picnics and to have a drink as well as the site for the opening and closing festivals.   I was here around the middle of the day, so not the best light, but with my limited time, I have to be somewhere during the dreaded middle of the day light hours!  More of Kamikochi coming soon!

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