The Japanese Alps 日本アルプス
The Japan Alps is the common name of the mountain range running down the spine of the main Japanese island Honshu, which includes the Hida Mountains, the Kiso Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains
We used the beautiful city of Takayama as our base to enjoy the Japanese Alps. Since we had only a couple days to spend there, we focused on the best mountains and sceneries that could be found around.
After a day enjoying Takayama, we decided to start our 'mountain delights' in Kamikochi (上高地), a 15 kilometer long plateau in the Azusa River Valley. Kamikochi plateau is only about 1500 meters above sea level, but it is surrounded by tall mountains which offers a one of Japan's most spectacular mountain scenery.
While my husband and I were hiking in Kamikochi, we were approached by a team of japanese working for the ministry of tourism. They asked if they could film us for a project of their to increase international tourism in the Japanese mountains. Unfortunately their english was not good enough to communicate in the best way, but it all made the experience even more intersting and funny! :)
You can find more breathtaking view of mountains, valleys and rivers from the Hotaka Mountain Range, easily reachable thanks to the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway. The cable car, actually made of two ropeways, climbs high up to 2150 meters and from there you can find some good trekking trails and enjoy a wonderful panorama view.
On a less positive note, it started to rain on our way down, which we didn't expect. I was dressed up for a sunny mountain day, and found myself wet and freezing while waiting for more than an hour for the bus that would take us back to Takayama.
That night, we enjoyed the company of fellow backpackers in the guesthouse as a typhoon was above us, and because of the non-stopping rain we spent the following day relaxing in the Onsen of Hirayu. I was a bit concern with going to an onsen because you are not allowed to enter them if you have tattoos. So I put on plasters on them and prayed that no one would notice. I was twice lucky here: first my tattoos didn't cause me any problem and second, everyone was leaving the onsen when I arrived there, because of the rain. Hirayu onsen is outdoor but it is covered by a rooftop, and I enjoyed the most incredible time in my hot bath of mineral water, with the smell and sound of the pouring rain and surrounded by the japanese mountains!
