Kamikōchi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

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Info. Kamikōchi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Kamikōchi is known for its spectacular mountain scenery. The forested valley, located within Japan's Hida Mountains (also called Northern Alps), is about 15 kilometers long and 1,500 metres above sea level. Part of the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, Kamikōchi is a popular hiking destination and visited by nature lovers from April to November before closing for the winter. There are lots of trails, including a pleasant walk along Azusa River, which flows the length of the valley and fills Lake Taishō at the base of Mount Yake, an active volcano in the Hida Mountains.