Kappa Bridge over the Azusa River

The Kappa Bridge

The Kappa Bridge (Kappabashi) is a slender wooden suspension bridge and the symbolic center of Kamikochi, drawing hikers and photographers to its arching deck above the river.

The Azusa River

Beneath the bridge, the Azusa River runs clear and shallow over a bed of pale stones, fed by snowmelt from the surrounding summits.

The Hotaka Range

Rising behind the valley, the jagged peaks of the Hotaka mountain range form a dramatic backdrop, part of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park and the wider Northern Japanese Alps.

A Protected Valley

Set within a vehicle-restricted nature reserve, Kamikochi preserves a pristine highland landscape of forests, marshes, and alpine meadows threaded by walking trails.