Peaceful and enjoyable with lovely cafe to enjoy before/after a hike. It took us 3.5 hours to summit Chogotake from here, 4km incline and 2km slightly easier incline. We saw a lot of older people doing the hike too. Well marked trail and many steps to help.
It took me 2 hours from the bus station, the camp site cost 2000 yen.
Located in a tranquil area along the Azusa River in Kamikochi, Kappabashi Kamiyu, the heart of the Kamikochi hiking trails, was immediately open to the public after the Kappa Bridge was reopened and the Kagemyojin Shrine was renovated around 1 AM.
In the past, this was a pastureland, and finding open and flat grasslands in this area was rare. The green space is surrounded by lush forests, and distant folded rock formations can be seen, creating a wide and beautiful landscape.
Currently, Dese primarily serves as an open area and important rest stop for hikers. It offers complete outdoor facilities, including lodging, Japanese food and drinks, and is an essential rest stop along hiking trails such as those to Mount Oshodake and Mount Yaridake. You don't have to start hiking right away; taking a break on the grass here, enjoying the tranquility, and appreciating the unique and magnificent mountain scenery is also a perfect experience.
Located along the Azusa River in Kamikochi, upstream from Kappa Bridge and between Myojin and Yokoo, Tokuzawa is a tranquil area and a stopover point on the Kamikochi hiking trails. It's about an hour's walk from Kappa Bridge, past Myojin.
Tokuzawa was once a pasture, resulting in a vast, flat meadow rarely seen in Kamikochi. Surrounded by forests, this expansive green space offers stunning views of the majestic Byofu-iwa rock formation in the distance.
Today, Tokuzawa primarily functions as a campsite and important accommodation for hikers. It features Tokuzawa-en Sanso (offering accommodation and meals) and comprehensive camping facilities, making it an essential rest stop for hikers heading to Chodake, Yagayatake, and other trekking routes. Even without hiking, simply relaxing on the meadow and enjoying the unique tranquility and beauty of the high mountains is an extremely comfortable experience.
