From Nagoya; one-day bus tour to Kamikochi

The bus tour without a tour guide will provide Chinese maps, precautions and store discount coupons. It departs from the meeting point in Nagoya to Kamikochi. It takes about 3.5 hours to arrive without traffic jams. It will stop at the road station to rest, go to the toilet and buy things. The driver will clearly inform the boarding time, which is very suitable for solo travelers who do not speak Japanese. The driver drives very smoothly and very well. It is best to take a photo of the license plate to avoid getting on the wrong bus. Staying in Kamikochi for 4 hours is enough for hiking 5.7K. Although it is cloudy, the scenery is very beautiful. Because of the self-paid grilled rock fish lunch, coffee and dessert, I stayed too much time and finally hurried to catch up with the return time. It is a place worth visiting again. Next time I have the opportunity to come to Kamikochi again, I will still join this tour.

The tour guide and driver were very friendly, and the meeting point was easy to find and clearly marked. The night before, an email was sent with the exact meeting time. We could store large luggage under the tour bus, which allowed us to enjoy the trip worry-free. Kamikochi is quite far, but it's incredibly beautiful and definitely worth a visit. In late April, the temperature was 59-68°F (15-20°C), so it's best to dress warmly. We were lucky not to encounter any rain. The shops near Kappa Bridge had great items to buy, and the restaurants were delicious. Next time, I'd like to stay overnight to fully explore the mountains. It's a shame that the day trip didn't allow enough time to complete the entire route.

The meeting point was easy to find, and the departure was on time. Even though it was rainy and cloudy on the day we went, we were able to comfortably walk the 3.5 km without getting tired. Our guide, Yamada, provided detailed explanations in both English and Japanese. We made three stops at rest areas, and we arrived back in Nagoya on time, around 7 PM.

After comparing several Kamikochi one-day tours, my selection criterion is actually only if I can stay in Kamikochi for a longer time (4 hours is the best, most tours are 3.5 hours), it’s really Because I really want to see the dreamy Myojin Pond with my own eyes (take the [Kappa Bridge-Myojin Pond] route), only this KLOOK tour advertises "enjoy four hours of leisurely exploration in Kamikochi!". In fact, I did explore the 7-kilometer round-trip route [Kappa Bridge-Myojin Pond] in a relaxed and comfortable way. Although it was still the rainy season, I walked in heavy rain all the way, and saw mist instead. The dreamlike Mingshen Pond is also an unexpected gain!

That trip is seems the longer stay time in 上高地 (~4 hours). It is enough time from 上高地 visitor center > 河童橋> 岳沢湿原 > 明神池 > 明神橋 > 小梨平キャンプ場 > 上高地 visitor center.

I was looking for a 4-hour tour to see everything, and that's how I found this one. The traffic was good and we arrived early, so I really appreciated that they extended the tour to 4.5 hours. Thanks to that, I was able to fully enjoy everything. I'm grateful for the driver, who was very polite and kind. Next time, I think I'll try the Imperial Hotel lunch and surrounding area tour.

On my first trip to Kamikochi, I got off at Taisho Pond and walked for an hour to Kappa Bridge. After a short break, I continued on to Myojin Pond. The round trip took a total of three hours. Although it was tiring, the scenery along the way was beautiful and well worth the walk.

About 3.5h journey to reach with 2 toilet stop so still ok. Beautiful place. Unfortunately we went on the last day before the park closure for the season and the shrine decided to close a day earlier. Hiked for 1h for nothing but at least the view there was therapeutic.

A dream trip come true! Thanks to HIS for hosting the event. The entire journey included three rest stop breaks. We left Kamikochi at 3:30 PM. Even though one passenger was late, the driver patiently waited for them (a 10-minute wait). Because the scenery was so beautiful, the entire trip involved stopping frequently to take pictures. It felt like we only had enough time to walk from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge. After replenishing our energy with some food and buying souvenirs, we had to prepare to head back. If you want to walk to Myojin Pond or further to other attractions, you'll need to drive yourself or take a public bus from Matsumoto!

Meeting point is easy to locate. 4 hours is enough to cover from Taisho-ike to Kappa Bridge but not the entire Kamikochi Trail. Free and easy tour and worth it as transportation is provided.