Things to do in Matsumoto

For those hesitant due to inconvenient transportation, this tour is highly recommended as it's incredibly convenient. The itinerary includes transportation from Nagoya to Kamikochi, one night's accommodation, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route ticket (Ogizawa-Tateyama), and return transportation from Tateyama to Nagoya. There's ample time allocated for hiking in Kamikochi; we chose an 8-kilometer hike and had plenty of time for lunch! Dinner is included with the overnight stay, and there's a large public hot spring bath to wash away the day's fatigue. On the second day, we also got to see the Snow Wall at the Snow Corridor, which was the highlight of Tateyama Kurobe! Our guide, Abu, was a man of few words, but everything he said was important and helpful advice. His service was excellent, and he drove very safely. Overall, the tour experience was fantastic.

The tour guide for this group was from Hong Kong. Sheila, our guide, was very thoughtful. She reminded us that the bus ride would be long and advised us to buy food at a convenience store to eat if we got hungry. The trip was very comfortable, and the tour bus was spacious with plenty of room, so it didn't feel crowded. Every 2 to 3 hours, there was a rest stop where we could buy snacks and use the restroom. On the first day, we visited Kamikochi. The itinerary was well-planned, and we got to see all the intended sights. The weather that day was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. The scenery in Kamikochi is beautiful and well worth a visit; I recommend it to everyone. Our first night's accommodation was a hot spring ryokan in Hakuba Onsen. The buffet was delicious, with a wide variety of food. On the second day, we went to Tateyama Kurobe. Unfortunately, the weather was bad, and the Snow Valley was closed, which gives us a reason to visit again in the future. We returned to Tokyo around 7 PM after the trip concluded. Our guide, Sheila, also recommended some good restaurants to try in Tokyo. We followed her advice and went to a beef tongue restaurant, which was quite tasty. We are very grateful to our guide for providing us with such an enjoyable two-day, one-night trip.

Saw a TikTok about this place and became super hyperfixated that I NEEDED to go here no matter what. Taking this tour was a great choice as it allowed for an easy transfer to and from Kamikochi. The first stop at Taisho Ike Pond was breathtaking which got me excited for the rest of the walk. the greenery of the forest in mid June was a sight to behold along with the Japanese Apls in the distance. The trial was not super crowded until you reached Kappa Bridge. There is also an additional trail to Myojin Bridge and Myojin First Pond but only if you have an additional 2 hours to spare. I was taking my time on the first trail that couldn’t make it to the second but I would definitely come back to do it!!

Kamikochi, known as "God's Homeland," truly is the most beautiful hiking destination. Walking along the Azusa River trail, nestled beneath the Hotaka mountain range, is incredibly refreshing. The breathtaking scenery, where the clear stream intertwines with the Hotaka peaks, is stunning and truly uplifting. Our tour guide, Yukino, was exceptionally dedicated on this trip. She meticulously prepared all the information, including introductions to attractions, suggested routes, and food recommendations, providing comprehensive details to all participants. She also catered to both Chinese and English-speaking guests, proving to be an incredibly diligent and responsible leader. Highly recommended!

It was an amazing experience. Fortunately, I got lucky with the weather and traffic. Everything was satisfying. I must mention our guide, Nakata-san; she was amazing. Basically, it was a Japanese tour, but she gave us extra care as non-Japanese and provided good information all day. I'm a tour guide myself, and I must say she did well to manage large numbers of people.

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.

This was my second time booking with this travel agency. We departed on time and arrived back in Nagoya exactly at 6 PM. The journey was smooth, and there were only eight of us on the shuttle bus, which made it very comfortable. I’m satisfied with the service, even though the weather wasn’t ideal—it was raining and the Alps didn’t show. I still had a great experience overall. I would definitely book again next time.

First, I'd like to thank our tour guide, Ms. Anna, for leading us on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route tour on May 8th. From the moment we boarded the bus, she provided very detailed explanations and repeated them in both Chinese and English. It seemed like if there were Japanese participants, she might have even explained it in Japanese again. She was able to explain the origins of everything, from the history of Tateyama and its scenic spots to the herbs on the Chizushi bento box, which was truly impressive. Furthermore, during the tour, she would always be the first to arrive at the meeting point, holding her flag high, and would frequently offer helpful tips, such as information on limited-edition local products, seating areas, recommended seating positions on public transport, crowd control, and perfect timing. In short, she is a truly admirable person. Regarding the attractions, I honestly feel we were very lucky. I initially thought it would be a day ruined by heavy rain, as it was pouring heavily on the way to Tateyama Station... My heart sank at that moment. I thought, "How are we going to enjoy anything like this?" However, from Tateyama Station onwards, the rain stopped. Then, at Murodo, at a crucial moment, there was only fog and wind, but the visibility was still very good, making the experience uniquely enjoyable. The fog even created a snow-like, yet not quite snowy, atmosphere. Besides our own group, I saw many other tourists having a great time. Later, at Daikanbo, there was no rain or fog when we were at the observation deck or riding the ropeway. We were able to take in the entire panoramic view, which was truly breathtaking. Any photo taken there could easily be a postcard. At Kurobe Lake and Kurobe Dam, I had heard there would be significant rain, but by the time our group arrived at Kurobe Lake, the rain had stopped, and visibility was incredibly high. The unobstructed view of the dam was another kind of spectacular and magnificent sight. Was our group blessed with some special luck? Thank you to our tour guide and the hardworking driver. Watching him drive precisely and smoothly on the dark, winding roads on the way back showed his extensive experience. Most of the tourists, including myself, slept soundly. Thank you to all the staff for providing us with such a wonderful experience on this one-day tour! I would definitely recommend this to friends who aspire to travel independently but also want an easy way to experience the Kurobe Tateyama Alpine Route.