Bratamori was moved too! Kamikochi—a place you must visit at least once — The breathtaking view of the Hotaka mountain range reflected in Taisho Pond and my photography record

How Bura Tamori Featured Kamikochi

The October 4th broadcast of NHK’s “Bura Tamori” featured the formation and charm of Kamikochi. For details, please watch the program. During the show, Tamori-san remarked, “I’d seen it on Google Earth, but this is my first time actually visiting.” Truly, “seeing is believing.” I believe Kamikochi’s appeal cannot be fully conveyed through images or photos alone; it must be experienced firsthand, walking its paths and feeling its essence with your own skin.

My First Encounter with Kamikochi Over 30 Years Ago

My first visit to Kamikochi was over 30 years ago. At that time, private vehicles were still permitted to enter the mountain area, but later, traffic restrictions were imposed for nature conservation, and today, access is only possible via tour buses or taxis.

Over thirty years ago, before the Awa Tunnel opened, we would depart Toyama around 2:00 AM, cross the Awa Pass before dawn, park at the Sawadani parking lot, and then take a taxi to Kamikochi (now buses run from Sawadani and Hirayu starting early in the morning. Bus from Hirayu, Bus from Sawadani). Passing through the Kama Tunnel, I would get off in front of the Taishoike Hotel. Still in the dim light, I’d set up my tripod and camera by the shore of Taishoike Pond. Waiting for the sky to whiten, I’d endure the cold, watching intently for the moment the ridgeline of the Hotaka Range would appear. Eventually, the sky brightened. As the mountains emerged, illuminated by the ever-changing light, it was finally time to start shooting. (View of the Hotaka Range from Taisho Pond)

Photographing the Hotaka Range from Taisho Pond in the Film Era

In that brief span of just 30 minutes to an hour, the landscape transforms at a dizzying pace. In the era of film cameras, especially large-format and medium-format cameras, the number of shots you could take was limited. Between frantically changing film and refocusing, I would frantically press the shutter. Looking back now, perhaps it was precisely because it wasn’t an era of unlimited shooting like with digital cameras that it became a special time to truly engage with the breathtaking scenery right before my eyes.

How Access to Kamikochi Has Changed Over the Years

Now that I’m older, I don’t visit Kamikochi as often as I used to. My equipment has shifted to digital, so I no longer carry the heavy large-format camera I once lugged around, and my tripod sees less use. Still, when I recall those days when I went almost every week from summer into autumn, I’m reminded anew of Kamikochi’s inexhaustible charm.

Why Kamikochi Remains an Irreplaceable Place for Me

Honestly, I don’t wish for Kamikochi to become overly touristy. Yet, faced with such breathtaking scenery, it seems a shame that only a select few know its charm. Kamikochi is a natural treasure Japan can be proud of, and I believe it’s a place where many people should experience its beauty. The sights etched deeply into the hearts of those who visit will surely become treasures of a lifetime. If you haven’t been yet, please come and experience it at least once. It will undoubtedly be a life-changing experience.