A hearty hello to all our loyal readers around the world! Today, we report on the end to yet another successful season in Kamikochi. 2024 saw countless visitors pour through our gates to enjoy Japan’s favorite mountain getaway spot. It has been a season characterized by unseasonably warm weather, but little in the way of natural calamities.
As in years past, the Heizanshiki was held to mark the final day of the season. This solemn Shinto Ceremony offers thanks to the gods for safe passage through the mountains over the past year.
Many visitors attended the ceremony, all bedecked in the warm outerwear demanded by the chilly weather.
Now, we begin the long wait for the park to reopen to the public in April of 2025. During that time, I will receive countless messages asking me what the opening dates for next season are. Short answer: The park will open to public transportation on April 17th. The official opening will follow on the 27th. Please be aware that only few facilities such as hotels and restaurants will be operating on the first day, but they will gradually open over the following ten day. As to the question of what opens when, sorry but we don’t have that info yet.
The intervening months mark the period when Kamikochi is effectively closed for the winter. Due to the danger of avalanches, blizzards, and other perils, we strongly discourage attempts to venture into the park during the off season. Inquiries about how to do so will be met with a politely-worded refusal.
We’ll be back with a few more blog entries before year’s end. Until then, on behalf of everyone at this website, I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who honored us with their presence over the past eight months. And it would be remiss to leave out the hard working folks at Five Sense for the invaluable info and images that they have shared through countless posts about Kamikochi. 来年も宜しくお願いします!
We hope that you all have a great winter and hope to see you again in the new year.
Source of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/fivesense-info/137629/
