will be visiting kamikochi from takayama as a day trip with 22 year old daughter late may. will have approx. 5 hours to hike here. will bring a packed lunch so we won't have to spend time dining.

how do we best spend our time here? do we also buy round trip tickets on bus to make sure we will arrive back in takyama to enjoy onsen time in our ryokan.

thanks for any and all advice.

Yes on purchasing round trip tickets from Takayama to Kamikochi and back. The tickets are not timed; feel free to get on when you want but be mindful of the last bus.

It's many years since I was there, and I was going on to Matsumoto, not returning to Takayama, but to be sure of getting away you needed a reservation for a specific bus. It was easy to change the reservation but you couldn't get on the bus without it.

A basic and pleasant walk, fairly level, is from the visitor center up to Myojin-ike (ike = pond) on one side of the river and back on the other (about 5 miles). You can add a worthwhile extension (2 miles or so) by getting off the bus at Taisho-ike before it reaches the visitor center. There's also a photogenic spot a few yards back from that stop (you'll see people and taxis).

Same.
I reserved a seat to Matsumoto when I arrived in Kamikochi but that was cutting it close.

You could look at taking bus(es) to get to Shinhotaka Ropeway and then hiking down to Kamikochi. IDK the time or effort required.

Takayama to Kamikochi requires a change in bus at Shin-Hokata Onsen. This applies going in both directions.

Do you mean Hirayu Onsen? This is the bus stop where the change is made.

Sorry, yes. Thanks progol.

If you are staying at a ryokan that includes dinner, check what time they serve it. Lots of ryokan are rather inflexible when it comes to dinner service. The baths are usually open until +/- bedtime.

yes we plan to be back by 5. thanks