Kamikochi/Norikura Custom Snowshoe Trekking Tour
This type of Tour is for those who are interested in having a custom tour in Kamikochi and or Norikura. For these tours we offer half day Kamikochi Tours, full day Kamikochi Tours to Kappa Bridge, Kamikochi+Norikura frozen waterfall combination tours, and other tours upon request. Starting times and finishing times can be adjusted. We can also pick you up at your hotel (Norikura, Shirahone, Sawando area only) or at certain bus stops (Oyakodaki, Sawando, Nakanoyu) if you are traveling from Matsumoto or Takayama.
Custom Half Day Tour to Taisho Pond
This tour is a custom half day tour to Taisho pond in Kamikochi and back. We recommend this tour for those who are traveling by bus/taxi as the starting time can be adjusted to your schedule. This is perfect for beginners who still want to see the vast landscape of Kamikochi. It is a total of 7km round trip. The tour usually finishes before lunch but make sure to prepare some snacks to eat along the way.
Custom Full Day Tour to Kappa Bridge
This tour is a custom tour for those who want to hike to Kappa Bridge in Kamikochi. It is a total of 13km round trip and so we recommend this tour for active hikers who want to explore deep into Kamikochi to see the vast view from Kappa bridge. It is not an easy hike so make sure you are prepared. Make sure to pack a lunch with you.
Custom Combination Tours (Kamikochi Taisho Pond+Norikura Frozen Waterfall)
This tour is a custom full day tour where the guide will take you to Taisho Pond in Kamikochi in the morning and explore the frozen waterfalls of Norikura in the afternoon. We can adjust starting times and finishing times upon request and make the tour fully custom. After Kamikochi the guides can stop at a local Soba shop or restuarant for lunch before heading to the frozen waterfall in the afternoon. The total distance of this tour is 8-10km depending on how far you would like to hike.
Custom Half Day Tour
Cost: 3-4 hours.
- 2 People: ¥20,000/person
- Group (3 or more people): ¥13,000/person
*Includes guiding fee, insurance, rental snowshoes, rental trekking poles, rental headlamps and sales tax. Does not include lunch.
**Minimum number of participants are two people.
***If the tour is more than 4 hours it will become full day tour pricing.
Distance: about 7km round trip.There is 2km of uphill hiking and 2km of downhill hiking and the rest is generally flat terrain in Kamikochi.
For: Must be older than 12 years old.
Sample Schedule (Half Day Kamikochi):
- 8:43 Pick up at Sawando Ashiyu Park bus stop. Take NORTHSTAR Shuttle to entrance of Kamikochi.
- 9:00 Start hiking from Nakanoyu (Hiking through tunnels with headlamps 2km)
- 10:30 Arrive at Taisho-ike pond or Tashiro pond
- 11:00 Depart Taisho Pond
- 12:30 Arrive at Nakanoyu. Take NORTHSTAR shuttle to bus stop.
- 12:45 Sawando Ashiyu Park bus stop to take bus back to Matsumoto.
*Pickup/Drop-off locations: K-26 Nakanoyu, K-21 Sawando Ashiyu Park, K-17 Oyakodaki, or hotels in Norikura, Shirahone, and Sawando area.
>>How to Travel to Kamikochi for NORTHSTAR Tours
Season:
Late December to mid March*
*No tour is available between mid November to mid December due to bad weather and no snow.
*Disclaimer*
Guides will make the final decision about the tour operation based on weather and applicable terrain conditions. Your safety is our priority.
All NORTHSTAR Tours are available with and English Speaking Guide.
Custom Full Day Tour
Cost: 4 or more hours.
- 2 people: ¥27,000/person
- Group (3 or more people): ¥20,000/person
Distance: 13km round trip. There is 2km of uphill and 2km of downhill and the rest is generally flat.
**This tour can be very challenging for beginners or those who are not physically active. It is a long distance and can be even more difficult wearing snowshoes and in deep snow. Please make sure everyone in your group understands this before booking the tour.
For: Must be older than 12 years old.
Sample Schedule (Full Day Kamikochi):
- 9:05 Arrive at Nakanoyu Bus Stop and meet with NORTHSTAR guide. Rentals and gear check.
- 8:20 Start hiking from Nakanoyu (Hiking through tunnels with headlamps 2km)
- 10:00 Arrive at Taisho-ike pond or Tashiro pond (Toilet)
- 12:00 Arrive at Kabba Bridge (Toilet)
- 12:15 Lunch time and break (Lunch is not provided, please pack a lunch)
- 12:45 Depart Kappa Bridge
- 14:00 Arrive at Taisho Pond
- 15:00 Arrive at Nakanoyu gate
- 15:05 Take bus towards Matsumoto
>>How to Travel to Kamikochi for NORTHSTAR Tours
Season:
Late December to mid March*
*No tour is available between mid November to mid December due to bad weather and no snow.
*Disclaimer*
Guides will make the final decision about the tour operation based on weather and applicable terrain conditions. Your safety is our priority.
All NORTHSTAR Tours are available with an English Speaking Guide.
Equipment – What to Bring
Required Equipment:
- Water proof snow jacket and pants
- Snow gloves
- extra insulation jacket (packable down jacket/extra layer to put in backpack)
- snow boots (30cm high)
- Hiking backpack (around 30L size / capable to carry snowshoes)
- water bottle (500mL ~ 1L)
- Lunch
- Snacks
*Please make sure you have all the required equipment. Temperatures in Kamikochi can drop below 0C to -10C on some days. Without the proper equipment it can become uncomfortable and possibly dangerous. Plan ahead for rental equipment.
**NORTHSTAR does not provide lunches. Please bring your own snacks and lunch for the tours.
>> Please read our blog post for Winter Outdoor Equipment Guide
Rental Equipment:
- Snowboots (snowboard boots) : ¥1,700
- Snow Wear Set (ski jacket, ski pants, beanie, gloves, goggles）: ¥3,000
- Backpack 30L: ¥1,000
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