Discover Kamikochi and Matsumoto Castle - Full Day Tour

Get ready for an amazing adventure! The tour kicks off at Nagano Station, where your guide will greet you at 8:15am and get you on board the tour bus for the journey to Matsumoto Station, the second pick-up point of the tour. Boarding begins at 9:45am, so make sure you're there! Once all guests have boarded the bus, we'll set off on our way to the historic centre of Matsumoto. This is a truly fascinating place, established as a castle town in the days of the Samurai!

The tour begins at Nawate-dori, also known as “Frog Street”, which is home to more than 50 shops, restaurants, and cafes most famous for selling all things frog-related. Located adjacent to the Metoba River which runs through Matsumoto, you would never believe from its appearance today that this river was once heavily polluted.

As a result of that pollution, the frogs which had once blessed the surroundings with their nighttime chorus became unable to live in the parts of the river near Nawate-dori, spurring local residents to start efforts to clean up the water and recreate a suitable environment for the frogs. This was the start of the long-time connection between Nawate-dori and frogs.

The street sells an array of specialities including many flavours of ‘O-sensei’ (rice crackers), ‘Taiyaki’ (fish-shaped pastries), ‘Dagashi’ (traditional candy), ice cream, and much, much more! If you love salty snacks, you absolutely have to try O-senbei!

Once we have finished up at Nawate-dori, we will begin exploring the Matsumoto Castle grounds. The castle dates back to the end of the ‘Warring States Period’ with much of the original structure still intact. One of the most beautiful historic buildings in Japan, it is one of only two 6-storey castles remaining today – yet only exists due to the intervention of local residents who have saved it from destruction more than once. You will be guided into the castle grounds as your guide reveals the history and features which make it so lauded, before heading into the castle itself and ascending to the top of its six stories! ( you have the option of entering the castle and climbing to the top floor. This climb is steep and staircases are tight and therefore may not be appropriate for some people. Please follow the instructions of your guide if they suggest you wait outside where you can freely stroll and enjoy the historic grounds). Inside you will find intricate woodwork, beautiful views of Matsumoto City, and a collection of historical guns, artefacts, and other items which will give you a glimpse into the life of a Japanese warrior when the castle was first built.

From there, you will have some free time to take a longer look around the castle grounds, visit a few shops around the castle, or buy some food at a convenience store to eat on the bus ride to Kamikochi. There is a Family Mart, one of the most popular chains of Japanese convenience stores, right outside of the castle grounds which has all the essentials and will serve you well should you require anything from a quick snack to a ‘bento’ box lunch to-go.

Once everyone has met back up in front of the castle, we will board the bus and begin the drive to the Chubu-Sangaku National Park. Taking around 1.5 hours in total, we will stop at a rest area after around 45 minutes to allow everyone a chance to use the restroom and stretch their legs. Re-boarding the bus, your guide will start to introduce the story of the majestic Chubu Sangaku National Park – one of Japan’s eight original national parks – as you enjoy the beautiful mountain road leading to Kamikochi.

Situated 1500 meters above sea level deep within the Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is famous for its natural beauty, pristine rivers and ponds, and dramatic mountain peaks rising to over 3000 meters. Here you will first enjoy a guided walking tour to Kappa-bashi, followed by some free time to relax in one of Japan’s most scenic spots.

We will be getting off the bus at Taisho-ike, a pond near the entrance to Kamikochi that was formed when a nearby volcano erupted over 100 years ago. From there, we will be walking farther up the Azusa River, which feeds Taisho-Ike, taking in the sights and sounds of the pristine natural environment in which the walking trail is located. The trail is mostly flat and well-maintained, and there are multiple toilets along the way, so you are free to focus on enjoying your walk. After around 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will reach our destination – Kappa-bashi. Kappa-bashi is a bridge over the Azusa River that commands the best view in all of Kamikochi; the mountains which you will have caught glimpses of along the way will be fully revealed here in all their glory. Once we have arrived at Kappa-Bashi, you will have another 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time, during which you may enjoy delicacies made with local ingredients, shop for souvenirs, or continue hiking around the area.

At 5pm, the tour bus will depart and begin the journey back toward Nagano, where the tour is scheduled to conclude where it started, at Matsumoto Station at 6:30pm (guests returning to Nagano Station will arrive at around 8pm-8:15pm).

Important information

Kamikochi is located at 1500 meters above sea level and weather can change quickly. Please ensure you have clothing suitable for changing conditions including rain and cooler temperatures (7 to 22℃). In late autumn (October to November), temperatures can drop to 0℃.

Please note that the times indicated are subject to external factors and are an approximation.