A Glimpse of the Japanese Alps

Growing up in the cordillera back in my home country, the mountains have always been my home. The trees and the mountains are like nature's own cradles. So, coming to Japan and experiencing more of it makes me feel closer to home. One of my favorites is traveling to Nagano, particularly in Hakuba and Kamikochi.

Hakuba-mura is a village located in Nagano Prefecture which is roughly a 5-hour-drive via the national road and a 3-hour-drive by expressway from where I live. It became famous for skiing and other winter sports since it came to fame after the 1998 Winter Olympics was held here. What many tourists don' t know is aside from its Winter activities, Hakuba offers a wide range of Summer activities such as biking, camping, paragliding, trekking, mountain hiking, nature walks, and a lot of water activities like canoeing, kayaking, and romantic dinner dates in the middle of its lakes.

Hakuba is a paradise not only for mountaineers but also for anyone, like myself, who seeks to have a glimpse of the Japanese Alps.

On the day of my climb, the weather didn't seem very promising as the fog was so thick and the visibility was low. I had to stay grounded and hold on to a little faith that it will eventually clear once I reach the pond (Happo-ike) where I can at least see the summit. 

The whole mountain range was just engulfed in clouds that it took me more than two hours for this sight. And a few more...

Time flies and with just a flicker, it's the end of the day.

I was bound to Kamikochi the next day and the forecast promised a lot of sun. I was elated and full of life.

Kamikochi is a remote mountainous valley.  It is also home to wildlife such as bears, deer, monkeys, and several species of birds and is preserved and protected by the government.. Hence, private vehicles are parked in designated areas and hikers are transported through buses and/or taxi cabs only which pass through a one way route.

The first stop is Lake Taisho. It was formed as a result of the eruption of Mt. Yake. 

Since Kamikochi Valley is flat, marshes and ponds are all over the area. The water is melted snow from the alps and mountain ranges surrounding it. Therefore, the water is always cold even during the hottest summer season.

Crystal clear water peacefully runs  through its river as well. The mountains and the sky give it a jade green color. Merely watching the river flow is enticing and calming at the same time.

Walking further following the river brought me to Kappa-bashi. A famous bridge in Kamikochi Valley. What really impressed me is the view of the Japanese Alps from the bridge.

I stood there in awe with tears forming at the corners of my eyes. How can one not be mesmerized by all these? Even I don't have the most beautiful words to describe it. It's a shame I wasn't carrying my best camera and only had a handphone with me. I am not a professional photographer myself and I usually capture bad ones. But someone once told me, "No photos can capture the real experience."

On one note, that's really my husband talking. He took all these photos using his handphone.  ;)