Japanese Alps
 

Is it possible to see any area of the Japanese Alps without renting a car? Do you know of any buses or train that traverse any scenic high mountain area or may any personal travel guides? I'm taking a 10 day trip to Japan and would love to spend a couple of days there but don't want to drive. I don't know enough about any specific towns there to say I want to see a particular one so I'm very open to suggestions. I will be traveling there either from Tokyo or Kyoto. Thanking you advance for your help.

Take a look here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2427.html and drill down on the alpine regions.

I've been to Kamikochi and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route without a car. Of the two, I preferred Kamikochi, but the snow corridor is cool if you are there early enough in the season.

A search for Kamikochi here on the Fodors forums will turn up some threads. There's also useful info in the JNTO pdf guides at http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/

I spent two days based at a ryokan in the hills above Matsumoto. Matsumoto is a cool, Alpine town with a fantastic castle, an interesting old primary school and a small merchants district. My second day, I bussed from Matsumoto to Kamikochi to spend a few hours hiking. I did not have a car during my entire trip in Japan. Trains and buses can take you everywhere, at least on Honshu. You don't say what time of year you are going but know that Kamikochi closes for the season on Nov. 15th. I was in Japan for koyo (fall colors) in Nov. 2013 and Matsumoto was a bit chilly (40s F). Wonderful for touring but you just need to plan accordingly for the time of year you are going.

Thank you someotherguy for the information and links! MinnBeef - I will be going in August and thank you for the info!

Matsumoto is a perfect place for a couple of days in the Alps. We have been there three times and really enjoy the area. In fact if Nikko reservations don't work out next year during Golden Week I may suggest this area for a Japan trip we are planning with friends. Nice scenic train ride out of Shinjuku station taking the Azusa train or you can shinkansen from Tokyo Station heading to Nagano, which is also a nice town to stay in the Alps. If you do go to Matsumoto try this place next to the castle. Newly renovated and our favorite hotel in this area. Ask for a castle view room.

http://matsumotohotel-kagetsu.com/


If you want a more rustic two days in a really small Alps town try a ryokan in the Takawagara onsen area. We love Osenkaku and the local train ride out of Tokyo to Minakami is a scenic treat.

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/ryoka...yokan=Osenkaku

Good luck!

Aloha!

Thanks hawaiiantraveler - I like the idea of a scenic train trip. Do you recall how long that trip is?

@ginalcg1:

Mine was about 2 hours, as I recall.

Just returned from a trip to Japan where we spent a few days in the Japanese Alps. We had a rental though (kids and luggage, just made more sense) so I can't help with train and bus info but I will say we loved Matsumoto. Stayed at the Dormy Inn, walking distance to the castle.

There's a really detailed step-by-step guide to getting to Kamikochi from Matsumoto here: http://www.kamikochi.org/articles/fe...o-to-kamikochi

Note the item about getting a reservation for the bus back out. You cannot get on an earlier bus without changing the reservation.

You don't need to return to Matsumoto, but can continue to Takayama, which is an attractive destination in its own right.

The instructions recommend the Jorudan train app, but I prefer http://www.hyperdia.com/

I've not stayed there, but there's an onsen resort at the interchange just outside the park (the buses stop there).

@someotherguy @boobaby; @Minnbeef - thank you all for your help!

Let us know what you end up putting into your itinerary.