Matsumoto Camp
Camping
Day 1
Kamikochi & Takayama — 5 days (Matsumoto, Yarigatake, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa & The Japan Alps)
Eight days, one mountain hut, and a summit on chains. Five days walking the Kamikochi valley floor and the Edo towns, without the hut night or the summit.
Meridian Overland
Runs this trip
Trekking
Eight days, one mountain hut, and a summit on chains
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Matsumoto CastleEight days in the Northern Alps — a valley closed to private cars, a hut at 3,000 m, and the thatched villages on the way out. Kappa BridgePrivate vehicles have been banned since 1975 and everyone arrives by bus. YarisawaJapanese mountain huts are booked, staffed and serve dinner at a fixed hour. Sanmachi SujiTakayama was a shogunate territory taxed in timber and rice, which is why the merchant houses are as good as they are. Gasshō-zukuri housesGasshō-zukuri means "praying hands" — roofs pitched at sixty degrees because the valley takes several metres of snow and thatch cannot… Kenroku-enKenroku-en was built over about two hundred years by successive Maeda lords and is usually counted among the three great gardens of Japan.
Itinerary
Eight days in the Northern Alps — a valley closed to private cars, a hut at 3,000 m, and the thatched villages on the way out.
MatsumotoHow the day runs
- 3 hrsThe limited express from Tokyo
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationMatsumoto Camp
Included Activities
- Castle entry
- Hotel night
- Kit check
LANDMARKS Matsumoto Castle Nakamachi Japan Alps Start point Matsumoto, Matsumoto station, Nagano 00:00 - 23:59Private vehicles have been banned since 1975 and everyone arrives by bus. It is why the valley floor is quiet by four in the afternoon.
Matsumoto, KamikochiHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — the bus in, because it is the only way
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — the Azusa river to Myojin and back
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKamikochi Camp
Included Activities
- Bus
- Lodge at Kamikochi
LANDMARKS Kappa Bridge Azusa river Myojin pond Hotaka range Japanese mountain huts are booked, staffed and serve dinner at a fixed hour. They are nothing like a European refuge and nothing like a bothy.
Kamikochi, YarigatakeHow the day runs
- 8 hrs5:30 AM — the Yarisawa valley to the shoulder hut
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationYarigatake Camp
Included Activities
- Hut with two meals
- Guide
LANDMARKS Yarisawa Yarigatake Mountain huts The last thirty metres are vertical rock with chains and steel ladders, and there is a queue on it in October. Everyone comes down the same way.
Yarigatake, KamikochiHow the day runs
- 2 hrs5:00 AM — the summit spire, chains and ladders
- 7 hrs8:00 AM — the long descent back down the valley
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKamikochi Camp
Included Activities
- Lodge at Kamikochi
- Guide
LANDMARKS Yarigatake spire Chain section Yarisawa Takayama was a shogunate territory taxed in timber and rice, which is why the merchant houses are as good as they are.
Kamikochi, TakayamaHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — the bus over Hirayu
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — Sanmachi, the morning market and a sake brewery
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTakayama Camp
Included Activities
- Brewery visit
- Ryokan at Takayama
LANDMARKS Sanmachi Suji Miyagawa market Sake breweries Gasshō-zukuri means "praying hands" — roofs pitched at sixty degrees because the valley takes several metres of snow and thatch cannot hold it.
Takayama, Shirakawa-goHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:30 AM — over to the valley
- 3 hrs9:30 AM — the village and the Wada house
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationTakayama Camp
Included Activities
- House entries
- Ryokan at Takayama
LANDMARKS Gasshō-zukuri houses Wada House Shiroyama viewpoint Kenroku-en was built over about two hundred years by successive Maeda lords and is usually counted among the three great gardens of Japan.
Takayama, KanazawaHow the day runs
- 3 hrs9:00 AM — west to the coast
- 4 hrs12:30 PM — Kenroku-en, the samurai quarter and the 21st Century Museum
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationKanazawa Camp
Included Activities
- Garden and museum entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Kenroku-en Nagamachi Higashi Chaya 21st Century Museum Two and a half hours to Tokyo on the Hokuriku line.
KanazawaHow the day runs
- 3 hrsThe Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Rail to Tokyo
- Day 1Castle entry
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Kit check
- Day 2Bus
- Day 2Lodge at Kamikochi
- Day 3Hut with two meals
- Day 3Guide
- Day 5Brewery visit
- Day 5Ryokan at Takayama
- Day 6House entries
- Day 7Garden and museum entries
- Day 8Rail to Tokyo
- Day 1 · 1 nightMatsumoto Camp
- Day 2 · 1 nightKamikochi Camp
- Day 3 · 1 nightYarigatake Camp
- Day 4 · 1 nightKamikochi Camp
- Day 5 · 2 nightsTakayama Camp
- Day 7 · 1 nightKanazawa Camp
- Day 1Matsumoto to MatsumotoThe limited express from Tokyo
- Day 8Kanazawa to KanazawaThe Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Kamikochi Camp
Camping
Days 2, 4
Yarigatake Camp
Camping
Day 3
Takayama Camp
Camping
Days 5, 6
Kanazawa Camp
Camping
Day 7
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts and 6 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
- DinnerServed on days 1–6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–8
13 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.4/5
Based on 74 reviews
Review summary
Food4.1/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.1/5
Transport4.1/5
Accommodation4.2/5
Tour operator4.2/5
Sort by:Recommended
2
A
Aditi Rao – Ahmedabad2026-06-28 · Verified booking
Long transfer at both ends that isn't obvious from the listing. Budget a day either side.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Berlin2026-06-28 · Verified booking
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Would book with them again.
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5
S
Sameer Khan – Pune2026-06-28 · Verified booking
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Would send friends their way.
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5
N
Nina Hoffmann – London2026-06-28 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Good value for what's included.
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4
V
Vikram Bose – Kochi2026-05-25 · Verified booking
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. No hesitation recommending them.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
D
Divya Reddy – Bengaluru2026-05-25 · Verified booking
Chubu in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Solid operator.
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4
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Delhi2026-05-25 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Recommended.
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4
A
Arjun Pillai – Indore2026-05-25 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Worth every rupee.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →