Episode of 33 of the podcast takes us into Japan’s highest mountain range and into the beautiful alpine valley of Kamikochi. Part of the wider Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is a 16 kilometre / 10 mile valley which follows the beautiful Azusa River and bookended by two famous mountains – Mount Hotaka and Yakedake. With an average elevation of around 1400 metres / 4593 feet, the valley is known for its outstanding beauty, pristine ecosystem and multiple mountain peaks. Open to the public from mid-April until mid-November each year, access is restricted in order to preserve that natural beauty and ecosystem, and as such, a little planning goes a long way when heading there. This episode of the podcast is my travel guide to Kamikochi.

In this episode I delve into the history of Kamikochi, what to expect, its highlights and hiking options, when to visit, where to stay and how to get there. Kamikochi is a special protected zone within the national park and as I explained, private cars are not allowed to enter. Visitors to Kamikochi must use public bus services, a taxi or a chartered vehicle, meaning that understanding how to get there is essential to making the most of your time there. I provide that information during this episode along with everything else you need to know.

Complete information – including accommodation and transport - can be found on the official Kamikochi website and you can follow them on Instagram. As always, more information, photographs, links and a map showing you where Kamikochi is can be found on the episode page of the Snow Country Stories Japan website.

Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.