A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers near and far! As I write, there is still a touch of winter chill hanging in the air. Just two days ago, Matsumoto City got a significant dump of snow, resulting in the Shinshu Derby between local football rivals Matsumot Yamaga and Nagano Parceiro being postponed.
But no winter lasts forever, with spring now drawing ever closer. In just under a month, Kamikochi will open its gates to visitors thus kicking off the 2025 season. Many of our readers have contacted us wanting to know what to expect on April 17th, so here in brief are the answers to some key questions:
Q: What is early opening and how exactly does it differ from the grand opening on April 27th?
A: Early opening, which begins on the morning of April 17th every season, is the first chance that visitors have to travel to Kamikochi using public transportation (buses, taxis, etc.). At this time, you may hike around central Kamikochi, but some businesses and other services will not be open yet.
Q: So what is open on the 17th?
A: There will be a limited number of dining options available at this time, including the Kamikochi Shokudo cafeteria. Although hotels have not announced their opening dates yet, there are usually only one or two open on the 17th. Other hotels gradually open up in the days between April 17th and April 27th. By the latter date, almost all should be open.
Q: Which walking routes will be open on April 17th?
A: While it's difficult to say for certain which routes will be open, you can expect to be able to hike around central Kamikochi. This will probably include hikes between Kamikochi and Taisho Pond as well as the popular Myojin area. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear as trails will likely be muddy and you might find yourself walking through puddles and shallow snow.
Q: What should I wear if I visit in April?
Please bear in mind that April temperatures can vary widely from day to day. You might experience cool and sunny weather, late winter conditions, or even potentially blizzards conditions. Kamikochi is located more than 1,200m above sea level and is typically around 9 degrees colder than Tokyo. Please prepare warm jackets or fleeces as well as gloves and hats. Even if you wind up stowing them in your pack, you'll be safe from the discomfort of the cold.
Q: What can you tell me about wheelchair access to Kamikochi?
A: Kamikochi offers a number of barrier free courses, suitable for visitors with mobility issues including those using wheelchairs. Please follow this link to view a map showing these courses. Although the map is in Japanese, the blue segemented lines clearly mark the barrier free routes. As you can see, they are extensive.
And with that we conclude this week's blog. Thanks as always to the good folks at Five Sense for posting the images we used in this piece.
We'll be back with more updates about the 2025 season in the following weeks via a brand new format. Till then, we wish you all the best.
Source of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/column/139669/
