A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers around the world!
With the long, wet rainy season mostly over, central Japan is now experiencing hot summer temperatures. Ever the comparatively cool Nagano Prefecture is already getting daytime highs as hot as 37 degrees Celsius, and we're not even midway through January yet!
Not to worry though. Relief from the summer heat is easy enough to find if you travel to Kamikochi.
Recently, we've had a few readers contact us with questions about bringing small children with them to the park. Well, you'll be pleased to know that there are a few family friendly options for short strolls in central Kamikochi. In fact, Five Sense blogger, Yuushi, posted on this very topic just the other day. We'll be sharing some of those insights in today's post.
1. Shimizu River:
If you walk upriver from the bus station for five minutes, you'll soon arrive at Kamikochi's most photographed spot, Kappa Bridge. Continuing along the same path, you'll discover a tranquil riverside setting in the form of Shimizu River.
For a healthy dose of cool ambience, step into this shady grove and gaze at the crystal clear flowing water. And be sure to stand on the bridge to catch a refreshing gust of cool breeze off the water.
2. Konashidaira Camping Area
Continue walking a short while along the same path to find the popular Konashidaira Camping area whose many larch trees will shield your family from the blazing summer sun. With plenty of wide open spaces, it's also an ideal place for energetic young children to run around.
Within the campground, you'll also be able to enjoy gently flowing streams with various species of fish swimming around with them. Future ichthyologists will enjoy watching marine life flowing languidly under the bridge along with the peaceful currents.
3. Mountain Vistas
Venturing even further along the Azusa River, you'll be rewarded with great views of the Hotaka Mountain Range. Of course, you can see these peaks from Kappa Bridge as well, but given how crowded that area usually is, you may enjoy the mountain vistas more from a more secluded vantage point.
This concludes our brief guide of spots in Kamikochi that are easy to visit with young children. But we'll end this post with an important reminder: UV levels are very high at higher altitudes. Be sure that every family member has a hat to protect their head from the harmful effects of direct sunlight. Sunscreen with a suitably high SPF should also be applied regularly to ensure comfort and safety throught your journey.
That's all for now, folks. Till next time, enjoy the summer!
Source of Information:
Nature Guide, Five Sense, Kamikochi blog:
https://fivesense.guide/blog/today/142041/
