Getting Here and Around

Takayama has connections north to Toyama by JR train (four direct departures daily). The regular train takes about two hours (plus up to an hour waiting for connections) and costs ¥1,660, and the express Wide View Hida train takes 1 hour 30 minutes and costs ¥3,360. You can transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Toyama Station to go back to Tokyo, or west to Kanazawa and the Noto-hanto. It's easy to get to Takayama by bus from Matsumoto for ¥3,190. A highly recommended detour to Kamikochi—available May through early November—increases the fare to ¥6,260.

Laid out in a compact grid, Takayama can be explored on foot or bicycle. Several shops rent bikes; ask at the tourist information office for details.