Breathtaking Scenery Discovered in Kamikochi Just Before the Winter Closure | Keiryuso Siorie
October has brought a run of clear, sunny days, with afternoon temperatures warm enough to make you break a sweat. In stark contrast, however, the mornings have grown astonishingly chilly. With Kamikochi closing for the winter on November 15th, there is now just one month left to visit this magical alpine basin.
Around this time of year, news of the season’s first snowfalls begins to circulate. Mount Norikura often faces the winter closure of its Echo Line road right alongside its first snow. Meanwhile, the prefectural road leading into Kamikochi will close for the winter season starting November 16th. Winter is truly charging in at full speed.
Yet, right before Kamikochi closes its doors, you may stumble upon unexpectedly breathtaking views. The snow-capped Hotaka Mountain Range—a gleaming white sight usually reserved only for experienced winter mountaineers in the depths of winter—can actually be witnessed just by taking a comfortable shuttle bus.
The photos below were taken during my trip to Kamikochi last November. Up until Nakanoyu, the mountains were dressed in brilliant autumnal hues. But the moment our bus emerged from the Kama Tunnel, the landscape completely transformed into a snowy wonderland, eliciting spontaneous gasps of awe from everyone on board. Returning from the winter realm of Kamikochi back to the autumn palette of Sawando, and continuing down Route 158, a magnificent late-autumn display awaited us at the Nagawado Dam. Within a single day, the Azusa River Valley offers the rare magic of experiencing two seasons at once.
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