Kamikochi

The meeting point was clearly defined in the morning. There were rest stops on both the outward and return journeys, with a 3.5-hour stop upon reaching Kamikochi. Since this was my second visit, my main goal was to visit Myojin Pond and Taisho Pond (I didn't go into two other ponds along the way) -> Kappa Bridge -> right to Myojin Pond -> left back to Kappa Bridge -> back to the bus terminal at 3:30 PM. I took deep breaths in the mountain forest, walking and taking photos, not lingering long, only bringing water and sweets to replenish my energy. Surprisingly, I completed the 10km hike. Before reaching Taisho Pond, there were cherry blossoms and layered greenery along the way, only visible in early spring. I'd definitely go again in different seasons. For solo travelers, it's good to choose a tour company, but there are also group tours that involve taking a bus.

Great, the meeting point was clearly marked, the tour guide was excellent, and there was plenty of time.

Seeing the snow walls on your own, with six different modes of transportation, would be very troublesome, and you might even be unable to get tickets. This tour offers a complete experience, including a great guide, Xiao Qing, and a very smooth and easy-going driver, Dongfang. This trip involves long journeys anyway, and you'll likely experience the same if you're not comfortable with long travel distances. If you can't handle long journeys, don't come.

I checked the weather forecast and made reservations before my trip. The bus was convenient as I could board directly. I was able to easily exchange my ticket for a ropeway ticket with almost no waiting, and I was able to board the ropeway without any problems about 15 minutes after the bus arrived. There were still some snow walls remaining at the top, so I was able to take a stroll around. If the weather had been a little better, I might have spent more time admiring the scenery, but I finished my walk and shopping and came down earlier than planned. I ate bread at a station along the way, but everyone lined up at the bakery at once, so it was crowded with people. There were plenty of seats, and it was nice to relax and look out the window. I would like to go again on a sunny day. It's quite far from Takayama. Most of the visitors were international tourists.

There are reserved and unreserved seats. It was easy to figure out the train schedule; thankfully, we only waited half an hour and managed to board.