About Kamikochi
It belongs to Matsumoto-shi, Nagano Prefecture and is known as one of the leading mountain sightseeing sites in Japan, designated as a special scenic spot, designated as a special natural monument / natural protected area by the country as a part of Chubu Mountains National Park.
The name of "Kamikochi" comes from the arrival of the god "Hotaka no mikoto". The letter of "Kamikochi" is written in Japanese as "God" "descends" "ground".
History (faith and development)
Morning glow of Myojin dake
Morning glow of Myojin dake
In 1688, there is already a record that there were lumberjack hut at 12 places such as Tasilo, Myojin, Tokugawa, Yokoo.
A hot spring was discovered in 1818 and accommodation facilities opened.
Until the mid-1800's, pilgrimage climbing was done as a place of worship of nature, believed to be spiritual in the mountains.
The birth of the Japanese Alps
Relief praising Sir Weston's achievement
William Gorland (Gowland), a technician invited from the UK by the Meiji government, introduced the mountain climbing mountain climbing in 1878 as "Japan alps" in the UK magazine.
This name was later known as the name "Japan Alps" introduced by Mr. Walter Weston, a British missionary, is known in the world.
To sightseeing spots of mountains
The back of the left rectangular frame is the former tunnel
In 1915, a debris flow caused by a grave explosion of Yakedake dammed the Azusa River, and the resulting pond was named Taisho Pond and joined one of the scenes of Kamikochi.
In 1916, Kamikochi area was designated as protected forest and it finished the role as a long timber supply area for more than 3 centuries.
In 1934, Kamikochi area was designated as a national park, and in the following year the bus will be operated to Kappa Bridge, and infrastructure development as a sightseeing spot will be abrupt.
It was designated as Chubu Mountains National Park in 1934, in 1952 it was designated as a special scenic spot of the country and special natural treasure, and it became widely known as a mountain tourist destination.
To mountain resort coexisting with the environment
Kamikochi which banned plants from 1909.
In the mountains that have been devastated by deforestation since the Edo era, tree planting has been carried out, and pioneering efforts to protect the natural environment have been carried out, such as wildlife protection and prohibition of fish fishing.
For the purpose of congestion and conservation of the natural environment, in 1975 banning private cars was banned, then gradually strengthened, and evolved to the present "Car less resort".
As the number of tourists has been increasing, we are seeking mountaineering railroad plans in tunnels as new transportation means.
A sedimentary plain of about 10 km and a maximum width of 1 km made by sand carried by the Azusa-river flowing in a valley made by hiigh peak of the Japanese Alps. Kamikochi is a plain in a mountain with an average altitude of 1,500 m that is not seen elsewhere in Japan.
Terrain / Climate
Overhead to look down from Mt.Okuhodaka CC BY-SA 3.0©Alpsdake
The rock that volcano "Yakedake" squirted and the earth and sand carried by Azusa-river gathered together, so that lakes and wetlands such as Myojin and Tashiroke and Taisho Pond existed, and a suitable place rare was found in the mountains It is.
The altitude of Kamikochi is surrounded by mountains around 1,500 m and over 2,500 m. The bluish flow of the Azusa River flowing through the center and the unusual climate that will exceed 20 ℃ even in the midsummer complements the refreshing feeling.
Plants · vegetation · Autumn leaves
The autumnal leaves of Kamikochi are centered on golden color
The environment blessed with rivers, wetlands, marshes and water, and the fact that planting trees such as large-scale deforestation and cedar trees were not carried out keeps rich vegetation.
As the altitude is 1,500 m above the elevation limit of the deciduous broadleaved forest zone, there are many sub-alpine coniferous trees centering on pine trees, and autumn leaves in Kamikochi are mainly golden color rather than red.
Wild animals and creatures
Besides Japanese ducks often seen in Taisho pond and Azusa River, edible River fish, sometimes seeing Japanese macaques, mammals such as Japanese Squirrel, Ermine, Japanese-Antelope, Asian black bears (described later) , Bush warbler, Uguisu and other birds, insects are inhabited.
Two rare types of overwintering
Japanese monkeys live in the south from subtropical Yakushima and north to Aomori prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula.
The northernmost Shimokita Peninsula is surrounded by the sea Since the lowest temperature is higher than Kamikochi as much as 10 degrees or so, Kamikochi monkeys are known to live in the harshest wintering ground in Japan .
In addition, it is also known that dack inhabiting Kamikochi winter over in Kamikochi despite being a cold district. There are few people coming and going between November and April, so it may be comfortable.
Being concerned
Magamos that give affection in the immediate vicinity, Japanese monkeys on the bench.
They are not afraid of human beings. The reason for not escaping is because humans did not harm.
And they came to approach humans because they gave me food.
They are wild. Giving food is only human satisfaction. Never give food.
A nasty insect
"Mosquito" which is already stabbed when you noticed in the garden, forest, etc. "botfly" and "blackfly" which sometimes meet in suburban hikes will pierce. And even more scary is "bee".
In Kamikochi, they will not get stabbed. Also, hornet and polistes wasp There are no reports of damage by aggressive bees such as.
Dangerous animals
The mountains of Kamikochi live in the mountains of Asian black bears. It has been reported that the haunts appear to the extent that they can not be said to be daily.
Please recognize that the bear is in nature living in. And if you see it please report it.
"Bear bell" is effective as a measure to prevent you from encountering a bear in the early morning and nighttime, bad weather days.
Even if you meet a bear, do not shock him loudly. If you go down calmly and slowly, you will not attack from the bear.
