Introduction
Mountaineering and hiking are among the activities on offer in Kamikochi National Park, an idyllic spot in the Japan Alps.
It is little visited by foreigners, but well known to the Japanese and it can get crowded at times - one of the most popular trails is nicknamed Ginza Traverse after Tokyo's shopping district, as it gets so busy.
Get away from the masses, however, and you'll understand why it became so popular in the first place: dreamy alpine scenery dotted with birch forests, lakes, onsen and ryokan, where wild bears, monkeys and a variety of other animals, butterflies and birds can be glimpsed while walking in the mountains.
Kamikochi is only open in the summertime (April to November), after which the narrow approach roads become blocked by heavy snow.
