hello all, i am planning around a week long road trip in May around Chubu region in that will end somewhere near Tokyo.
Disclaimer: I have visited Japan multiple times but this will be my first time visiting Chubu and driving.
Here’s the rough itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Nagoya in the morning. Spend 2 nights there.
Day 2: Still at Nagoya
Day 3: Collect rental car and depart for Ise Shima in the morning. Explore area and stay for 1 night.
Day 4: Explore other parts of Ise Shima before heading towards Gujo, then end day at Takayama and stay overnight there.
Day 5: Explore Takayama in the morning and stop by Toyama next. End the day at Noto.
Day 6: Explore Noto region. Maybe another night there.
Day 7: Still at Noto region?
Day 8: Head towards Matsumoto in the morning and explore that area. Not sure if there’s enough places to see to justify staying overnight there. Ideally I want to head as close to Tokyo as possible without being overly tired due to driving the entire day.
Questions i have:
• how feasible is the itinerary?
• are these places worth driving to? Or am I better off taking public transport?
• how are parking fees like in those areas listed (aside from Nagoya)? is it correct to assume most will be free parking since its at rather rural area?
• assuming the above is actually do-able, what is a recommended place to end my road trip at? i am thinking of ending somewhere near Kanagawa followed by taking a train to Tokyo
2 comments
The Noto Peninsula is best explored by car.
– [5-day Road Trip to Noto Peninsula (Ishikawa) and Toyama Alpine Route](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/o0tn59/road_trip_to_toyama_and_noto_peninsula_ishikawa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
There’s also lots to see around Takayama by car but with the city itself it’s quite walkable.
– [Takayama: Autumn Weekend (Gifu)](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mg8ir9/autumn_weekend_in_takayama_gifu_prefecture/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
City and touristy areas you’ll definitely have to pay for parking. Sometimes temples and shrines have free parking, sometimes they don’t.
Toyama, Gujo, Takayama, Matsumoto will not have free parking. Hotel parking is usually not free either. Around 1000-2000¥ a day.
Also don’t forget to factor in tolls! If you get an etc card there are discounts for driving at night and on weekends.
I think there are also passes but they are only for tourists so I’ve never used one.
And one way rental fee (20.000¥)
Ise shima a car is definitely needed, same as noto peninsula. Also so much to see around Takayama if you have a car.
Without a car your itinerary would be impossible.