A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers around the world!
As I write, the month of June is quickly drawing to a close. The rainy season is likely to chug on for a while longer, though. It’s not unusual to have many rainy days in July as well.
Following the lead of Five Sense blogger Aki, we’re taking a moment to focus on some of Kamikochi’s lesser known attractions. Let’s gaze into the crystal clear waters of Kamikochi’s smaller rivers.
At only 300m in length, the Shimizu River (pictured above) is dwarfed by the famous Azusa. The latter is of course is a river of truly mythic proportions, and naturally hogs the spotlight when talk turns to bodies of water. But those who simply bustle by the smaller Shimizu on their way to another destination are missing out on one of the park’s understanted treats.
One defining characteristic of the Shimizu is the large amount of hot spring water flowing from the riverbed. The yearly average temperature of the water is between 7 and 8 degress Celsius and even in the winter time it’s warm enough to feel hospitable to ducks.
While hiking from Tashiro to Taisho Pond, you’ll also want to take a moment to appreciate the streams winding through the shady forested areas. The net effect is one of perfect serenity (assuming the place isn’t mobbed with people that day).
A peek under the surface confirms the pristine quality of the water:
And with that, we conclude this week’s blog. Thanks as always to the good folks at Five Sense for providing so much quality content for us to pillage share!
We’re looking forward to a relaxing but fufilling summer here in Kamikochi and hope you’ll be there to join the fun. As sure as night follows day, grass is green, and West Ham are massive, it’s going to be a magical season.
Sources of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/today/128468/
