Where Beauty Fades but never Dies

A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers near and far!

As I write, there are fewer than ten days left to enjoy the 2021 season at Kamikochi before the park closes for the winter on November 15th. But just as a sunset is at its prettiest moments before it yields to the night, so the autumn foliage is bidding a picturesque, golden farewell to the autumn. The larches are starting to lose their needles, but continue to show vibrant yellow hues in the twilight of the season.

Here once again, we’ll be sharing recent content from the superb Five Sense blog, along with some of the bloggers’ invaluable insights about the state of things in the park.

If you are one of the lucky few to find yourself in Kamikochi in the next few days, here’s a short list of easily accessible spots for larch-viewing:

・The short walk leading downriver from Kappa Bridge to the Bus

・The area around the terminal itself.

・The winding stretch of the Azusa River which flows past the Teikoku (Imperial) Hotel.

・The Konashidaira Camping Area.

Current Conditions and Suggested Attire

As of last Tuesday (2021/11/2), morning temperatures sat at a chilly two degrees Celsius, rising to around ten degrees around midday. As regular readers might have noticed, this isn’t markedly different than the last time I posted. In fact, it’s a little warmer than it usually is in Kamikochi for this time of the year. Still, you’ll want to pack a warm jacket and fleece if your going to be here early in the day or toward evening. Well, you’ll pretty much want to pack one regardless of the time of day as the air can turn cold in an instant.

We’ll be back in the coming weeks to cover the final days of the 2021 season along with the closing ceremonies.

Wherever you are, stay warm and safe. We look forward to seeing you in the years to come.

Sources of Information:

Nature Guide Five Sense Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/autumnleaves/32015/