My Relaxing Day in Kamikochi: Going Where the Path Led Me! 🏞️🚌

#summervacay I arrived at the Kamikochi Bus Terminal directly with my luggage, which I conveniently stored there (available until 5:00 PM). My initial plan was a 4-hour hike, but since I arrived closer to noon, time just slipped away as I indulged in ice cream by Kappa Bridge (河童桥), and simply relaxed by the roadside streams. In the end, I did a round trip from Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond on foot, then took a bus to Taisho Pond. I've outlined my route in the last image: red line for walking, yellow for bus. The most stunning scenery was definitely around Kappa Bridge. The water was a crystal-clear, mesmerizing mint green, and the mountain peaks were still lightly dusted with snow. While there were quite a few people, the beauty truly made up for it. On the right side of the path from Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond, I encountered numerous macaques! It seemed to be birthing season, as many were carrying adorable mini macaques on their backs – incredibly cute! Myojin Pond (明神池) is primarily a place for worship; honestly, it wasn't the most impressive part of the trip and felt like the least worthwhile expense at ¥9,500 JPY. For the evening, I had booked a stay with dinner and breakfast at a nearby Hirayu Onsen. I was worried about finding space on the bus from Kamikochi, and too lazy to head back to the bus stop for the timetable. That's when I met some incredibly kind young Chinese women working in Japan – they were truly like angels! They helped me call a taxi and even saw me off. I'm so grateful for their kindness! #kamikochi #japantravel #hiking #kappabridge #myojinpond #taishopond #onsen #hirayuonsen #naturejapan #japanesealps