In the Japan Alps region, the crystal clear waters of Lake Myojin are sacred to Shinto.
I don’t know all the piers in the world, but I dare say that the simplest and most poetic is in Japan, a country where I lived for more than a year, more precisely in the bucolic myojin lakein the province of Nagano, in the Japanese Alps. Nestled in the Kamikochi nature reserve, one of the most beautiful in the country, the lake, like the entire region, is considered sacred. At the end of the small wooden walkway there is a Shinto altar dedicated to the deities who are believed to inhabit and protect the place (the characters used to write “kamikochi” can also be read as “place where the gods descend”).
The crystalline waters of Miojin they are very important for Shintoism, the original religion of Japan which has nature as the central object of worship. When the snow on top of the peaks of the Mount Hotaka, close, melts, provides water for the Azusa River, that flows Kamikochi before irrigating the rice fields of the region. The single boat on the Myojin Lake pier is used once a year, between October and November, in the Ofune Matsuri (or boat party) and during ceremonies Omizutori AND Omizugaeshi (literally, “drawing and returning water”), which draws water from the three rivers that meet in the city of azumino and returns it to the source, in the deepest part of Myojin.
The lake is located a few meters from Hotaka Shrine, about an hour’s walk from kappabashi, bridge which is the postcard of Kamikochi. Part of Chubu Sangaku National Park, the reserve is located between Toyama, Nagano and Gifu prefectures and is closed from mid-November to April. The end of October is the peak of visits, during the autumn (cold and clear days, yellow leaves).
With beautiful trails of different levels that border rivers, volcanic lakes and forests, Kamikochi it is accessible to some extent by bus or car (passenger vehicles are not allowed inside). You can see a lot in one day, but if the idea is to immerse yourself in the park, there are more advanced trails up the mountain, camping areas and a few hotels.
How to get to Kamikochi
There are buses that go to Kamikochi and depart from Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo; learn more
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
