Step off the bus and you're immediately greeted by the stunning beauty of Taisho Pond, a place born from the eruption of Mt. Yake. You'll be captivated by the mirror-like surface of the water reflecting the dramatic Hotaka mountain range, with the eerie, submerged trees creating a truly mystical scene. It's the perfect starting point for a gentle, mostly flat hike along the Azusa River to the iconic Kappa Bridge, a walk of about an hour that immerses you in some of Japan's most spectacular alpine scenery.