Karasawa Cirque
Karasawa Cirque (涸沢) is a mountain spot at about 2,300m elevation on the Nagano side of the Hotaka Range in the southern Northern Alps.
A vast glacial cirque carved by glaciers spreads out, and in the autumn-foliage season Nanakamado and Dakekanba dye the mountain face brilliantly. It is one of Japan’s foremost autumn-foliage destinations.
From Shin-Shimashima Station on the Matsumoto Electric Railway, take a bus to Kamikochi, then access on foot.
When autumn arrives, the entire cirque turns red, orange, and yellow — making it one of Japan’s premier autumn-foliage destinations, packed with climbers come to see this scene.
Sandwiched between Karasawa Hutte and Karasawa-goya, the area is a tent site; on the most crowded weekends as many as 1,000 tents are pitched.
Reaching Karasawa Cirque is standardly done from Kamikochi as the starting point.
This page introduces access to Kamikochi.
*Timetable last checked: May 15, 2026
How to access the trailheads
- [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi Bus Terminal
- [Outbound] Kanto / Kansai → Kamikochi Bus Terminal (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)
- [Return] Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Shin-Shimashima Station
- [Return] Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Kanto / Kansai (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)
1. [Outbound] Shin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi Bus Terminal
From the Alpico Kotsu bus terminal in front of Shin-Shimashima Station, take the “Matsumoto – Shin-Shimashima – Kamikochi” line to Kamikochi Bus Terminal.
Travel time: approximately 65 minutes / Fare (adult one way): Shin-Shimashima → Kamikochi ¥2,850 (revised 2026/4/17)
Operating period: April 17 – November 15, 2026 (reservation system)
Bus TimetableShin-Shimashima Station → Kamikochi Bus Terminal
| Shin-Shimashima Station Dep. | Kamikochi BT Arr. |
|---|---|
| 07:10 | 08:15 |
| 08:00 | 09:05 |
| 08:40 | 09:45 |
| 09:30 | 10:35 |
| 10:05 | 11:10 |
| 10:50 | 11:55 |
| 10:50 | 11:55 |
| 11:30 | 12:35 |
| 12:10 | 13:15 |
| 12:50 | 13:55 |
| 13:30 | 14:35 |
| 14:10 | 15:15 |
| 14:50 | 15:55 |
| 15:30 | 16:35 |
Reference (official):
Route guide & reservation page
Detailed timetable PDF (2026/4/17–11/15)
Detailed fare table PDF
2. [Outbound] Kanto / Kansai / Nagano → Kamikochi Bus Terminal (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)
※ Regarding 2026 operating information: Osaka / Kyoto → Kamikochi (4/17 – 11/14) and Nagano → Kamikochi (4/26 – 11/15) are confirmed to operate. The 2026 operating information for Kanto-departure services from Shinjuku / Shibuya etc. is not yet confirmed (as of 2026-05-11). Verify the latest information on the Sawayaka Shinshu-go official site. The information below is reference information (2026 season reference).
Use the direct highway bus (Sawayaka Shinshu-go / seasonal / reservation required) from major cities. The representative services on each route are below. Verify the operating days on the calendar.
Fare (adult one way): Shinjuku direction from ¥8,000 / Osaka / Kyoto direction from ¥10,000 / Nagano from ¥4,400
Travel time: Shinjuku direction about 5 hours / Osaka / Kyoto direction about 7 – 8 hours (overnight) / Nagano about 2 hours 40 minutes
Bus TimetableSawayaka Shinshu-go Bus Timetable
| Busta Shinjuku Dep. | Kamikochi BT Arr. |
|---|---|
| 07:15 | 12:02 |
| 22:25 | 05:20 (next day) |
| Shibuya Mark City Dep. | Kamikochi BT Arr. |
|---|---|
| 22:00 | 05:20 (next day) |
| Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai) Dep. | Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Dep. | Kamikochi BT Arr. |
|---|---|---|
| 21:30 | 22:50 | 05:20 (next day) |
| Nagano Station Dep. | Kamikochi BT Arr. |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | 11:10 |
3. [Return] Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Shin-Shimashima Station
From Kamikochi Bus Terminal, board the service bound for Shin-Shimashima Station. Approximately 65 minutes.
Operating period: April 17 – November 15, 2026
Fare: ¥2,850 (revised 2026/4/17)
Bus TimetableShin-Shimashima Station from Kamikochi
| Kamikochi BT Dep. | Shin-Shimashima Station Arr. |
|---|---|
| 07:50 | 08:55 |
| 09:30 | 10:35 |
| 10:40 | 11:45 |
| 11:25 | 12:30 |
| 12:05 | 13:10 |
| 12:40 | 13:45 |
| 13:20 | 14:25 |
| 14:05 | 15:10 |
| 14:40 | 15:45 |
| 15:15 | 16:20 |
| 16:00 | 17:05 |
| 16:40 | 17:45 |
| 17:15 | 18:20 |
| 17:55 | 19:00 |
Reference (official):
Route guide & reservation page
Detailed timetable PDF (2026/4/17–11/15)
4. Kamikochi Bus Terminal → Kanto / Kansai / Nagano (Sawayaka Shinshu-go)
From Kamikochi Bus Terminal, use the Sawayaka Shinshu-go operated by Alpico Kotsu to each area. (Reservation required)
Fare (adult one way): Shinjuku direction from ¥8,000 / Osaka / Kyoto direction from ¥10,000 / Nagano from ¥4,400
Travel time: Shinjuku direction about 5 hours / Osaka / Kyoto direction about 7 – 8 hours / Nagano about 2 hours 40 minutes
Bus TimetableSawayaka Shinshu-go Bus Timetable
| Kamikochi BT Dep. | Busta Shinjuku Arr. |
|---|---|
| 14:30 | 19:17 |
| 15:50 | 20:37 |
| 16:50 | 21:37 |
| Kamikochi BT Dep. | Shibuya Mark City Arr. |
|---|---|
| 16:20 | 21:10 |
| Kamikochi BT Dep. | Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Arr. | Osaka (Hankyu Sanbangai) Arr. |
|---|---|---|
| 16:10 | 21:31 | 22:15 |
| Kamikochi BT Dep. | Nagano Station Arr. |
|---|---|
| 15:00 | 18:05 |
Reference (official):
Shinjuku – Kamikochi (2026 season) PDF
Shibuya – Kamikochi (2026 season) PDF
Osaka / Kyoto – Kamikochi (2026 season) PDF
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