Traveling from Nagano (Jigokudani) to Kyoto on November 18th. Just looking for the more beautiful travel route with a fun stop to break up the travel time 🙂
Possible routes include:
Nagano to Kanazawa to Kyoto,
Nagano to Nagoya to Kyoto,
Others?
Both are about the same travel time, 5.5 to 6 hours. But was considering which way could be more fulfilling. Like stopping in Kanazawa for a few hours on that route, or checking out Matsumoto Castle and grabbing lunch on the Nagoya Route?
Does anyone have experience on either of these routes or suggestions for stops along the way? Thank you so much!
7 comments
We took the local express from Kyoto to Nagoya to Matsumoto to Nagano (reverse of your direction) and it was lovely. The train winds alongside a river through little tiny farming towns, with the mountains peeping between each other as you go. Highly recommend. Did it specifically to stop and see Matsumoto castle on the way, also worth it.
Stopping in Matsumoto and/or Nagoya for sights and food also helps break up the trip so it won’t feel like 5 straight hours on a train. Honesly, between Nagoya and Matsumoto felt just a quick blip, not 2+ hours, but I was glued to the train window loving on the scenery so I didn’t notice time.
Takayama is one of the great place to stop by.
The direct route from Nagano to Nagoya (Shinano limited express) is beautiful and stopping at both Matsumoto and Kiso Valley (Nakasendo Trail) are both well worth it! Nagoya is one of my favorite places for food as well.
Currently on the Thunderbird Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Kyoto. If you can reserve a seat on the left (C or D) you’ll get beautiful views of the villages right up against Lake Biwa. By the time you travel you’ll probably catch the fall leaves on the right side. Sadly it’s still pretty green right now.
My route from Nagano to Kyoto was: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Nagano to Toyama, Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa, day trip to Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa, Thunderbird from Kanazawa to Kyoto. Really enjoyed it! You could do this route (minus the day trip) in a day, though it’ll be a long day.
I’ve done both a few times.
By car and train.
Fave is Nagano-Kanazawa on shink.
Catch bus (super easy bright coloured ) around Kanazawa to explore.
Then catch the Thunderbird express down past Tsuruga bay.
Matsumoto is great. Worth more than a small visit IMO.
The journey on the Shinano Wide View to Nagoya is scenic for most of the journey.
Then its a crazy busy shink from Nagoya to Kyoto.
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*it does depend on the weather. Sometimes its raining on the sea of Japan coast and its miserable. Being towards the start of winter. This is more common.
Do the nakasendo route youll find some amazing spots!!! nagano, matsumoto, nagoya and then kyoto!!