Here’s some good news to go with your afternoon tea: the Kama Tunnel, which connects Kamikochi to the surrounding area via bus service, will open on April 19th (with the official opening ceremony taking place on Saturday the 27th). That means there are just two weeks left until the park opens up to the many people who’ve been waiting patiently all winter. Hotels around the area are busy preparing to welcome visitors and eveywhere that warm feeling of new beginnings is in the air.
With all the reports of heavy snowfall across Japan, you might be expecting the park to be covered in the white stuff even now. According to park staff, however, a lot of the snow at ground level has melted. I myself can’t help but feel a little sad about this as winter scenes in Kamikochi are among the most beautiful you’ll see all year. On the other hand, the well-trodden paths around Kappa Bridge are now more welcoming to all kinds of visitors, including those who don’t have heavy duty boots
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In nearby Matsumoto, there has been a steady increase in warm, sunny weather over the last few days. The cherry blossom trees are beginning to blossom around town, and that’s a sure sign that spring in here.
In Kamikochi, of course, the temperatures are cooler and the signs of spring mostly come in the form of melting snow. But there’s also an unmistakable scent in the air that tells you that things are beginning to grow once again. The new buds will soon start to appear signalling the return of vitality after a long, tranquil winter. Another aspect of this “vitality” is the return of people to the park. All of the park’s staff will be returning on the 12th, beginning what will surely be a hectic week of preparation for the arrival of visitors the following week.
Naturally, we’re all very excited about the 2013 spring season. The opening of the Kama Tunnel also represents the opening of the Northern Alps to people from around Japan and around the world. For regular updates, be sure to visit us here at the SHK homepage as well as at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kamikochi . If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, or simply want to say hello, be sure to leave a message on our wall.
That’s all for now. We look forward to seeing you at Kamikochi soon!
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