Hello!
We’re planning to visit Japan for two weeks. I plan to post the full itinerary here eventually to get a sanity check. But before doing so, wanted to share a snippet of the more rural part of our trip (in the middle of the trip) to see if what I’m proposing makes sense! Rest of the trip is more typical and includes Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Himeji, and Nara.
Friday 9/1: Leave Hotel in Tokyo (5 minute walk to Ueno Station): Hokuriku Shinkansen –> Shinano to Matsumoto Station (6:22-8:37 AM). Explore Matsumoto and take 2:46 PM Matsumoto Kamikochi Line to Shinshimashima and then transfer to Shin-Shimashima – Norikura Kogen Line to Sawando Bus Terminal. Arrive at Onsen nearby around 4:15 PM. Stay the night.
Saturday 9/2: Wake up and have breakfast, check out of Ryokan and take 30 minute bus to Kamikochi. Drop luggage and explore / hike until heading back to Takayama at 5:00 (arrive 6:31 PM) to check in at hotel and explore city a bit. Using these two links ([https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/kamikochi/r-hirayuonsen-kamikochi/](https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/kamikochi/r-hirayuonsen-kamikochi/)) and ([https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route\_bus/kamikochi-line-en/](https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line-en/)), I’m piecing together a bus from Kamikochi to Hirayu Onsen (5:00 PM –> 5:25 PM) and a second bus from there to Takayama 5:30–> 6:31 PM. *For some reason, Google Maps doesn’t show this route to me. It offers really nothing.*
Sunday 9/3: Check out of hotel (near Takayama station) and drop bags before exploring city more. Take either the 1:16-2:11 PM or 2:26-3:21 bus to Shirakawa-Go. Stay night at traditional inn.
Monday 9/4: Check out is at 9, so early breakfast and head out. Bus option seems limited, so plan is to take 8:50-10:05 bus to Kanazawa Station. Thunderbirds from here to Kyoto leave at 10:52, 11:20, 12:10, 1:16 PM, etc. So plan is to make a decision based on how we’re feeling. If we want to drop our bags at Station and walk through the market for lunch and to the Castle and Kenroku-en Garden for a quick stopover, we will. From there, we will have rest of day in Kyoto as well as two additional days.
Let me know if I’m missing anything super obvious or if this seems overly ambitious, etc. We are frequent travelers and we do tend to fill days to the brim.
A note on JR Pass: Plan to get 7 day JR pass but not activate until taking Thunderbird on Monday. Travel on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning will not be JR based so we will end up losing on the 14 day pass. 7 day will be a slight net positive before you account for any local JR subways that we take in cities after Monday 9/4 (we depart on 9/10).
3 comments
Looks very rushed but is doable. Can see a lot if good planning has gone into it.
Hi!
Depending on where you are staying some places offer transfer from Matsumoto. (or at least did in 2018) I stayed at Nakanoyu and used their free transfer. I did have to let them know at least a week in advance. They also took me directly to Kamikochi. But I was on my own for onwards travel, and unless you are specifically staying there, I think the 3 Star Route will possibly be cheaper.
Assuming you are not staying there, you can also look into [https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/three-star/](https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/three-star/)
The 3 Star route.
You would take the bus from Matsumoto to Hirayu onsen. You would pay out of pocket to go roundtrip from Hirayu to Kamikochi. You would then use the pass to continue from Hirayu to Takayama, Takayama to Shirakawa Go and Shirakawa Go to Kanazawa.
Subways are not covered by JR only JR trains. Whether the 1 week pass is worth it will depend on what you are doing post Kyoto, which is not clear.
Google Maps is really dynamic and does a great job of showing the best route at the exact moment you look. It doesn’t know about bus schedule changes or whether there are better options if you wait 20 minutes. It’s about the best option for whatever time you are asking about.
I would use a combo of the Alpico/Nohi bus schedules and look at the Kamikochi website for additional info.
Good luck.
If you go early to kamikochi you should hike yakedake. Worth it to get out of the valley.