Hi All, I’m planning a trip with my family (with teens) to the northern alps in December 2023, this is my 4th tip to Japan, but my first to visit the Alps.
Couple of questions \[in square brackets\], especially about driving in the Winter conditions of the Alps.
The itinerary:
16/12: Arrive in Narita (later afternoon), transit to Tokyo downtown by Skyliner train.
17/12-18/12: Hang around Tokyo, reconnect and acclimatize!
19/12: Local flight to Kanazawa, Komatsu Airport (experience the sights of the alps from above)
19-22/12: Rent a car, drive around the area \[any suggestions?\] e.g. Chirihama Nagisa Driveway, Toyoma, Fukui, Echizen (crabs galore)
23/12: Return car, ship main luggages to Hakuba cabin. Take bus to Shirakawago in the morning, walk around village. Late afternoon, take bus to Takayama. \[Since the winter lightup only starts in Jan 2024, is it worthwhile to stay one night in Shirakawago? Instead of taking a bus, how tricky will it be to drive from Kanazawa to Shirikawago?\]
24/12-25/12: 2 full days in Takayama, and spend Christmas in the Takayama mountains. As some others have pointed out, I’d mostly rely on bus and walking. No plan to rent a car as I assume the place will be mostly wintery and snowy.
26/12: Take morning bus to Matsumoto, reaching late morning, rent car at bus terminal, drive to Matsumoto castle. Continue onto Hakuba mid afternoon. I would prefer to reach Hakuba before sunset so that visibility is better in case there is snow, and it gets dark and driving can be tricky.
27/12-28/12: 2 days in Hakauba cabin, chilling (hope there’s snow!)
29/12: Drive to Nagano train station, return car, catch Shinkansen to Tokyo, stay 1 last night
30/12: Leave for Narita to to catch flight home.
Any suggestions and comments?