Postcards from Kamikochi

Kamikochi, located in Nagano prefecture, is a beautiful alpine valley nestled (1500 masl) within the Hida mountain ranges, also known as the Northern Japanese Alps.

Kamikōchi is bordered on its northern end by Mount Hotaka, the highest peak in the range at 3,190masl, and on its southern end by Mount Yake, an active volcano.

Marshes and ponds are a common feature of the valley, including the Takezawa Marsh, Tashiro Pond, and Myojin Pond. As the waters are mainly from melted snow runoff or underground aquifers, the water temperature is cold, even in the height of summer.

Photos and text courtesy of Angie Zafra