Kanazawa/Takayama/Matsumoto
 

We are thinking to go by train from Kyoto to Kanazawa (stay there for three nights)and then hire a car to drive through to Takayama (one night) and on to Matsumoto (one night), leave the car there and go by train down to Tsumago/Magome (2 nights) and back from there to Kyoto.

First of all, any comments on this itinerary? Anyone done anything similar? We'll be doing it mid October and are hoping the autumn colours will be starting at least.

Any advice about where and how to hire a car in Kanazawa. We will be there on Sports Day Holiday but hoping the car rental places will be open (?).

Does anyone know any car hire places that do not charge the huge dropoff fee when we take it from Kanazawa and leave it in Matsumoto (Toocoo said 11,500Yen)

An important question, which is the best and most scenic route from Kanazawa to Takayama?
Is there anything we should not miss along the way? Or even SLIGHTLY out of the way too... don't mind trying to find our way but we don't speak Japanese and they warn us that the gps will probably not be in English...

thanks in advance ...

We visit the Gokayama and Shirakawa-go area from Kanazawa pretty often, as with the new road, it's only an hour drive.

There are a few rental places right at Kanazawa station...I think Toyota, Nissan...one of them (don't know which though) is affiliated with Hertz. I have never rented a car though, just seen the shops and a few times checked prices for other people.

Drop off fees...don't expect there is any way around it. No reason for rental agencies to be closed on a holiday. The daily rental fee for any car of substance will be at least ¥8000/day. If you want to avoid a drop off fee (which I don't think the price you quite is at all unreasonable), then you could do a really nice loop of the area to Takayama and back to Kanazawa over a couple of days then take the train or bus from Kanazawa to Matsumoto.

Routing....the easiest way is to use the expressway and newly opened connection to Takayama. Hokuriku expressway to Tokai Hokuriku expressway to the Takayama connecting road. Not bad scenery wise, but a couple of long tunnels. This way will take about 2 hours, is well marked in Japanese and English.

The most scenic way would certainly be local roads. It will take a good chunk of time, maybe up to 6 hours, and the way is not well marked in any language. We have been lost plenty of times before in the area in spite of a fabulous navigation system.

The Hakusan Super Rindo offers a connection between southern Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go. Scenic, with specific stopping areas for short hikes to good view spots, a tea shop, a couple of waterfalls.

Between Kanazawa and Takayama I would not miss the villages of Gokayama. Less full on touristy than S-go, smaller in scale, welcoming and interesting. There are a couple of places where you can make paper...one in a bus tour stop shopping complex, and a great on in a real paper shop where you go into the wet paper making area and try it yourself with the staff. We found this just driving by...it is down the hill from Ainokura (one of the Gokayama villages).

For me, a night in Gokayama/S-go would be nicer than Takayama, but that's me. I'm not a big fan of Takayama...small city with a preserved area, very popular tourist destination for Japanese and international tours, and as such, is just too tourist oriented. It is also a city, and looks and acts like any other small Japanese city.

Thank you that is so helpful. We've just found out there is a (drinking) festival at S-go on Oct.14 + 15 and that may make other options better to visit then,like Gokayama perhaps?

That festival in S-go is supposed to be good. The driving distance between the villages of Gokayama and S-go is not far, just curvy a bit and a secondary road. You could easily visit a series of villages, which is usually what we do, as there is a lunch place we like in one village, a paper making stop nearby, good beer in another...none of the villages are far from the others unless you are walking.

The castle in Matsumoto was one of our favorite places. Plus walking from Tsumago to Magome was a delight. The mountain scenery between Takayama (by bus) to Matsumoto was beautiful. Of course, Kanazawa was an excellent experience. Great trip!

Love to know more Kim and Elaine . ([email protected]) I'm now also looking at Gujo-hachiman which looks terrific on it's website. Perhaps a place to stay a night (the tourists go home at 5pm like Miyajima ) . Rang a ryokan ,but they speak no English unfortunately.

The national park off the road between Takayama and Matsumoto is called Kamikochi and it is absolutely delightful. Much more scenic than the Nakasendo (or at least, the part between Tsumago and Magome, which is the only bit I've walked). Bus and train will get you there pretty easily if you're not set on renting a car.

Elainee, if I remember correctly, I think you stayed overnight in Hirayu Onsen and enjoyed it. It is also on OP's route.

someotherguy, I also enjoyed a stop at Kamikochi. Bus only from Takayama, I think. On the other side it was bus to Matsumoto or bus to a train to Matsumoto. There isn't a train all the way now, is there?

KimJapan, have you ever visited Furukawa? I think that is the name of the town north of Takayama that is less touristy. Furukawa (?) is to Takayama as Gokayama is to Shirakawago.

Mrwunrfl: yes Kamikochi is a bus ride from Takayama in one direction and Shin Shimashima or Matsumoto in the other. I simply meant that trains could be used for the rest of the journey.

Tommmo: Kyoto to Kanazawa is a long way and there are many (more) interesting places nearer to Kyoto you might want to consider. Places I've particularly enjoyed are Nara (more than Kyoto, actually, but you need to read up on this as the deer park is *not* the main attraction), the castles and temples around Lake Biwa, the Ise Shrines, Matsue (via Okayama and Bichutakahashi) and along the coast to the Izumo shrine.

Thanks SOGuy but our mind's made up re. travelling down from Kanazawa. We've done Nara last time and thanks to Jetstar suddenly changing our booking, now have to leave from Nagoya ( which fits in ok luckily )
So ok you route experts, can you plan a route Kanazawa - Matsumoto (return rent car)- Narai etc. ending in Nagoya, please, and if possible including Gujo-hachiman and other good things enroute.
Thank so much

...as well, we'd apreciate any hints on spending a day in Nagoya before departing Japan at night. Thanks

Tommmo take a look at these:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-409.pdf

It shows the bus (road) route thru the mountains on page 3. Ogimachi = Shirakawago

Also this one for the Kiso Valley, again page 3:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-408.pdf

Here is a guide for Nagoya. There is a reconstructed castle that is worth a visit (it has an elevator):
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-411.pdf

On a day trip from Nagoya you can visit Inuyama. There is a nice castle there. Also a tea house with a beautiful garden. Between the garden and the river is a big hotel that allows visitors to use there onsen bath. You would take the Meitetsu train.

Thanks so much, it's coming together rather well. I think we will train down from Magome to Nagoya, spend the night in the Toyoko inn, head off early up to Inuyama and do the river rapids trip and try to be back in Nagoya for the great sounding flea market there and then take an airport bus that night to the airport for 10pm flight to Aus. Phew!