This is the "trip report" of the week-end we made with Joanna, Axel and JP. I had been willing to seen the South Japanese Alps for a while, and decided to go to the Kami-Kochi area, at the boundary between Nagano-ken and Gifu-ken.

Kami-Kochi is considered, among all places that can be reached by car or by public transportation, as the wildest one. Visitors have to park their car in one of the large parking lot in the valley, and take a bus or a taxi to reach Kami-Kochi. Of all places visited so far, no one remained me so much of Switzerland. Kami-Kochi is a small, flat are surrounded by rather tall mountains; several lakes and rivers are found there; and it is the starting point of many treks in the Alps. The biggest difference is obviously the vegetation: the area is covered with marsh fields, and has characteristic plants.

Here, special bento can be bought: instead of the usual fish and rice combination, you can get cheese and bread in Kami-Kochi (but: it is really expensive)!

Some of the marsh fields, which are very much appreciated by Japanese photographers.

Also, monkeys can be easily spotted in the trees - another difference with Europe.

Next step of the trip : the Shin-Hodaka area.