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KAMIKOCHI |
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Tucked away in the Northern Alps at 1500m is the beautiful
mountaineering and hiking resort of KAMIKOCHI , nestling in the Azusa
valley. Hardly more than a bus station and a handful of hotels scattered
along the Azusa-gawa, Kamikochi has some stunning Alpine scenery, which
can only be viewed between late April and the end of October before
heavy snow blocks off the narrow roads and the resort shuts down for
winter. As a result, during season the places buzzes with tourists and
the prices at its few hotels and restaurants are as steep as the
surrounding mountains.
Kamikochi's history as a tourist destination dates back to the turn of
the century, when British missionary Walter Weston helped popularize the
area as a base for climbing the craggy peaks known as the Northern Alps.
The highest mountain here is the 3190-metre Hotaka-dake, followed by
Yari-ga-take (3180m). Both are extremely popular climbs; one trail up
Yariga take has been dubbed the Ginza Juso (traverse), after Tokyo's
busy shopping area, because it gets so crowded. However, the congestion
on the mountain is nothing compared to that found at its base, where, at
the height of the season, thousands of day-trippers tramp through the
well-marked trails along the Azusa valley. The best way to appreciate
Kamikochi is to stay overnight so you can experience the valley minus
the crowds in the evening and early morning. Alternatively, come here in
June, when frequent showers put off fair-weather walkers.
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