1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Kamikochi – Enchanting Landscapes & Seasonal Beauty

Escape the city for a day and immerse yourself in the natural splendor of the Japan Alps. Tour a vibrant flower park, a charming mountain farm, and the iconic Kamikochi region of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. Hike the well-maintained trails to Kappa-bashi—as your guide points out unique flora and fauna along the way—and capture stunning views of the surrounding mountains. This full-day tour from Nagoya allows you to journey to the Japan Alps and experience its natural beauty to the fullest as you are led by an experienced, English-speaking guide.

Highlights

• Explore the stunning alpine valley of Kamikochi, considered the jewel of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, on a 1.5 hour guided hike.
• View vast fields of seasonal flowers at a pastoral village high in the Japan Alps. 
• Capture stunning photographs of the natural landscape, enjoy delicacies made with local ingredients, feed farm animals, or just simply relax and enjoy a slower pace of travel through this picturesque region of Japan.

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 8:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. We will then board our private bus towards our first location. Those concluding their tour in Takayama or Kamikochi will be able to store their luggage on our bus at this time.

We will make our way to a scenic flower park and pastoral village located high in the Hirugano Plateau of Gifu Prefecture. Located over 1000 meters above sea level, this picturesque park offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains—further enhanced by the beauty of seasonal flowers spread across vast fields.

The farm is also home to an assortment of horses, goats, sheep, alpacas, and more. You are welcome to feed the animals, stroll through the gardens, sample locally made ice cream, shop for dried flowers, or just relax in the shade and enjoy your own picnic.

We will then continue our journey through the Japanese Alps to Chubu Sangaku National Park and the 15 kilometer long picturesque plateau known as Kamikochi. Located in Japan’s highest mountain range, Kamikochi is a special preservation district with limited development (only a few hotels and restaurants) and is not accessible by private cars.

This has allowed the flora and fauna of Kamikochi to remain relatively untouched, and safeguarded the pristine rivers, crystal clear ponds, and dramatic mountain peaks Kamikochi has become famous for. 

Your guide will lead you on a trek through Kamikochi to one of its most notable landmarks, Kappa-bashi. The hiking trail is mostly flat and well maintained—featuring wooden plank boards a majority of the way—so you are free to focus on enjoying your walk. The entire hike takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. Your guide will be on hand to help identify some of the plants and animals which call this region home and take pictures which will be sure to make everyone back home jealous of your travels.

Once we have arrived at Kappa-bashi, you will have approximately 1 hour of free time, during which you may enjoy local delicacies, shop for souvenirs, or continue hiking around the area.

Your guide will then accompany you back to the tour bus to start the return trip back to Nagoya.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

NAGOYA STATION @ 8:00 A.M.

The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates. 

If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.

If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 8:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded. 

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• Transportation during the tour
• Entry fee at all locations

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from Nagoya Station

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.

• It’s important to note that this tour will take us to high elevations (1500 meters above sea level) where temperatures are often cooler 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℃. We recommend dressing in layers and bringing a small pack or backpack to hold water and a jacket.
• While there are options for purchasing lunch/food at both the flower park and Kamikochi, options are rather limited. It is advisable to bring snacks or a packed lunch to enjoy on location.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.