“Myojin-ike Pond, also called “Kagami-ike” or “Shin-ike” in olden times, is a Shinto sanctuary on the grounds of the inner shrine of Hotaka Shrine, located on the far side of Kamikochi.
From Kappa-bashi Bridge, walk upstream on the Azusa River and it takes about an hour to get there.
Ichino-ike and Nino-ike are two large and two small ponds, and char, mallard ducks, mandarin ducks, and other birds can be seen in the ponds.
Surrounded by coniferous forests, the lake’s surface reflects the surrounding area like a mirror, making it truly mysterious.
The scenery in the early morning and evening, when the lake turns vermilion, is especially majestic.
The lake was created when a landslide occurred on Myojin-dake (Mt. Myojin) and blocked the stream of a tributary of the Azusa River. San-no-ike Pond used to be here, but it was lost due to the landslide.
The Okumiya Shrine of the Hotaka Shrine sits by the pond.
The area near Myojin has long been considered a sacred place, and was also called Kamiagaiji, Kamigaki-uchi, Kamikawachi, and so on.
A 300 yen entrance fee is required to view the pond on the shrine grounds.
Origin of Kamikochi
The name Kamikouchi was derived from the fact that “Hotakami-no-Mikoto,” the deity of Hotaka Shrine, descended from Mt. Hotaka and was enshrined at this location (Hotaka Shrine Okumiya and Myojin Pond), which later became the common kanji spelling for the current name “Kamikochi.”
All facilities in Kamikochi are closed from mid-November to mid-April
Admission to Hotaka Shrine
300 yen
Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen
1 hour and 10 minutes by bus bound for Kamikochi from Niijima Station on the Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line. 1 hour walk from the terminal to the upper reaches of Azusa River.
By car
For entry by car, park at Sawatari Parking Lot (2,000 spaces) or Hirayu Parking Lot (850 spaces) and use the shuttle bus (Nobi Bus 0578-89-2351) or cab (Kamikochi Taxi Joint Dispatch Management Center 0263-95-2350) for pick-up and drop-off.