Please could we have some help with our itinerary. We have three nights in Kanazawa and would like to visit the Unesco village of Shirawakago. We'd also like to enjoy an onsen in the Okahida Valley. Our 4th night is in Matsumoto.
During our stay in Kanazawa we could take a day to visit Shirawakago and then return to Kanazawa. I believe these tickets are not reservable. Or, could we take a bus to Shirawakago then on to the Okahida Valley use a public onsen and then return on a bus to Kanazawa in one day? Or should we change our reservation and book two nights in Kanazawa, one night in an hotel with an onsen and then take a bus to Matsumoto. We can only spend one night in Matsumoto before travelling back to Tokyo as our plane leaves the next day. We are two 76 year old women with a good deal of energy and fairly fit. My concern is the timing and all the non reservable buses we'd have to rely on. Thank you

>> believe these tickets are not reservable
I would be very surprised if that was the case

>> could we take a bus to Shirawakago then on to the Okahida Valley use a public onsen and then return on a bus to Kanazawa in one day?
No.

For Kanazawa to Matsumoto, you would travel by rail.

Thank you mrwunrfl. Another option is to skip Matsumoto and spend three days in Kanazawa, go to Takayama via Shirawakago and spend a night in a hotel with an onsen. What is the best way to get to Tokyo from there? We could also spend 3 day in Kanazawa, take the train to Matsumoto and stay in a hotel with an onsen there and then proceed to Tokyo. Thoughts?

I took a look at your earlier thread and you didn;t post the itinerary that you came up with. You were looking for a spot for a hot spring and it seems you still are.

>> Or should we change our reservation and book two nights in Kanazawa, one night in an hotel with an onsen and then take a bus to Matsumoto.
I googled "onsen in Kanazawa" and found this:
Dormy Inn Kanazawa Natural Hot Spring Hotel Search Results

I noticed that a few have "natural hot spring" or "onsen" in their name. The others don't and I would assume that their public baths use the same water (municipal) as in the bathroom. The "natural" ones are saying that the water is piped from an actual spring. If you care about the claims of benefits from soaking in natural mineral water then you would want to see the description say something like the "piped directly from the source". That and/or it says something about the natural mineral content of the water.

You can get a half-day tour from Kanazawa to Shirakawago by private car. Probably bus tours. Or take the public bus both ways. Or drive. Instead of returning to Kanazawa you could go on and stay in Takayama, but you would want two nights there if you wanted to visit Okuhida from there.

There are onsen towns near Kanazawa, much, much, closer than Okuhida. Matsumoto doesn't really fit in the time you have,- not if you want to visit an onsen and Shirakawago.

I suppose you might be able to go from S-go to Okuhida for the night. Three buses - I think you would change in Takayama. It would be a matter of getting to your Okuhida lodging before the checkin window closes. The next dat it would be possible to stop in Matsumoto on the way to Tokyo.

But, I think the best plan would be to spend all four nights in Kanazawa with one daytrip.

I just noticed this. Skipping Matsumoto altogether is a very good idea, imo. The idea in this post, "Kanazawa, take the train to Matsumoto" is not a good idea.

Finding a hotel with onsen in Takayama faces the same issue that I mentioned above for Kanazawa. At one time the Green Hotel was the only one with natural hot spring (so "they" said, IIRC). Maybe the plumbing got more extensive, IDK

Takayama to Tokyo would be limited express train on the Takayama Line and then shinkansen. Fairly scenic going south from Takayama to connect to Tokaido Shinkansen or north to Toyama to get the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Actually, I should be asking why you are trying to squeeze in Matsumoto. Am guessing that you read about Matsumoto and Okuhida in trip reports.

ETA: I would not recommend staying at Green Hotel. It is just a big Japanese tourist hotel.

Kanazawa -> Shirakawago -> Takayama (then to Tokyo)
Below are options available for you to consider by taking the Nohi bus. I agree with mrwunrfl that you do not have time for Okuhida.

Nohi Express Bus info: https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/
Schedule for the Kanazawa-Shirakawago-Takayama Line is at:
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/highwaybus/kanazawa_en/ .
Scroll down to the lower half to see the bus schedule running in the direction of Kanazawa>Shirakawago>Takayama

Click on the "Reservation" button to pre-purchase your bus tickets from Kanazawa>Shirakawago at least 2 weeks prior. Buses between Kanazawa <->Shirakawago are by reservation only. You can cancel for a penalty of 100 yen per ticket before the trip, but you cannot go if you cannot find available bus seats.

If you are taking the bus directly from Kanazawa>Takayama, then once you purchase your tickets to Takayama, you are all set. But since you want to break up your trip in Shirakawago, it takes a bit more planning.

1) Purchase your bus tickets Kanazawa>Shirakawago online at least 2 weeks prior. At Shirakawago you'll need to stow your luggage. The few lockers at the bus stop get full quickly. Although there is a manned storage facility located behind the bus station, it can also reach full capacity if you don't get there early enough in the day. In that case, you will have to walk the streets of Shirakawago with your roller luggage.

2) Allow for about 3 to 4 hours in Shirakawago, then get on a bus to Takayama. For the bus segment from Shirakawago to Takayama, it is best if you can also pre-purchase your bus tickets online at the same website. If not, then after you get off at Shirakawago, immediately line up at the bus station's ticket counter to buy your afternoon bus tickets to Takayama. That way, you'll know how many hours you can have to spend at Shirakawago.

In Takayama, the "Spa Hotel Alpina Hida Takayama" is a very nice hotel with onsen on the 9th floor. Book early, espeically if you are staying during a weekend. The hotel is about a 5-min walk from the Takayama train station.

From Takayama > Tokyo, the same highway bus website shows there are direct buses from Takayama to Tokyo (Shinjuku) that take 5h30m. Or you may take a train to Nagoya and then change to a shinkansen to Tokyo.

>> have to walk the streets of Shirakawago with your roller luggage

The option would be to ship luggage ahead to Tokyo to Takayama. Travel that day with backpack(s) with enough for the two of you for the overnight in Takayama and next day to Tokyo. Then, if you have to, you will have an easy time getting around S-go. Really, fresh shirt and undies and Rx might be all you need.

>> If not, then after you get off at Shirakawago, immediately line up at the bus station's ticket counter ...
This is great advice. Had to do this at Kamikochi and got one of the last reserved seats.That bus (not the Shinjuku bus) had seats that folded down into the aisle for overflow. My impression was that those jumpseats were not reserved.

There is that bus to Shinjuku. I took that part of the way from Takayama to Kamikochi. It is a cheaper and more grueling trip than taking JR.via Toyama or Nagoya. The leg room on the bus is very tight if you are not Japanese size. The bus goes over the Japan Alps - winding mountain roads - to Matsumoto. I probably should not mention that it goes via Hirayu Onsen (Okukida). Oh, I did mention it earlier as a possible overnight alternative to Takayama.

The Takayama Line north to Toyama is said to be one of the most scenic rides in Japan. The ride south to Nagoya is scenic as it winds along a valley. Toyama is a smaller station, easier to navigate than Nagoya (nbd, just take the trains with the best schedule that suits you). If you are staying near Ueno (north of Tokyo station) then you would want to go via Toyama as Ueno is a Hokuriku Shinkansen stop.

kerrylou, your PM started with "I haven't followed up on my thread Kanazawa to Takayama lately". SMH

Your itinerary is grueling and you need to do some homework to make it work. Reading54 gave you great info about the buses (among other info).

It has been two months. Time to follow up. Here.

We have come up with a new itinerary and yes it is going to be gruelling. We're planning to drop our luggage off at the hotels as soon as possible and at Kanazawa we'll send our luggage to the hotel in Tokyo and use a backpack for the next two days.

May 14th Tokyo Shinjuku
May 15th Tokyo Shinjuku
May 16th Tokyo Shinjuku
May 17th Kyoto
May 18th Kyoto
May 19th Kyoto
May 20th Kanazawa
May 21 Kanazawa
May 22nd Takayama
May 23rd Hirayu Onsen
May 24th Tokyo Shinjuku

We plan to leave early from Kyoto to Kanazawa so we have a somewhat full day when we arrive. Likewise, leave Kanazawa early on the 22nd to make the most of our one day in Takayama. Thank you Reading54 on the information on the Nohi Express Bus from Kanazawa to Takayama. We will book it 2 weeks before we leave Canada on the 13th of May. At Takayama we'll take a bus to the Shinhotaka Ropeway and get off at Hirayu Onsen. For our return trip to Tokyo I'm still not quite sure the best way to travel. Mrwunrfl suggested returning to Takayama and taking two trains first to Toyama then to Tokyo Station. There is also a direct bus - Shinjuku Expressway Bus just not sure how comfortable it will be. It's also possible to take a bus from Hirayu Onsen to Matsumoto and then take the Super Azusa to Shinjuku.

Thank you mrwunrfl for the suggestion to take a limo from Shinjuku to Narita Airport the next day.

Agreed!

>> For our return trip to Tokyo I'm still not quite sure the best way to travel. .... <<

All three options are viable. Bus seats will not be uncomfortable, and the view outside will differ from that of a train. However, if you're willing to depart early that day and have an interest in visiting Matsumoto Castle, I'd take a bus to Matsumoto to explore the castle, and then catch a Super Azusa to Shinjuku in the afternoon.

Thank you Reading54. I appreciate all the time and energy you've spent inputting so much information about transportation. mrwunrfl you've invested a great deal of time and energy also. Thank you for prompting me to re read my original thread as a great deal of my questions had already been answered. The 75 year old brain is not as flexible as in the past. I take your comments seriously and may drop Hirayu Onsen from the itinerary.

Welcome back, kerrylou.

You will be in Tokyo during Sanja Matsuri 2026 (Sanja Festival) - Tokyo Travel

>> return trip to Tokyo
What Reading54 said with/without the castle visit. The train from Matsumoto will be more comfortable and the highway bus stop is close to Matsumoto Station and the city bus stop for the castle is ekimae (bus stop #1, IIRC).

Taking the bus through to Shinjuku makes the trip a no-brainer and cheaper. Expect the seating to be for Japanese-sized people. The bus is uncomfortable if you are tall. At 6' 3" I would really need two seats just to have room for my legs. IF I took that bus then I would expect it not to be full and that I could stretch out.

Good that you have a luggage plan.

The airport limo bus has several stops in Shinjuku. Hopefully your hotel is one of the stops. If not, then be aware that it will probably be quite confusing to get from the bus stop to hotel.

You can use this timetable for your arrival day:
Narita Airport→Shinjuku (Tokyo) Area Timetable | Limousine Bus Tokyo Airport Transportation | Best access to Haneda and Narita airports

Start at this link for your departure day:
Timetable Search Results | Limousine Bus Tokyo Airport Transportation | Best access to Haneda and Narita airports

>> may drop Hirayu Onsen from the itinerary
Just saw this. It is good advice.
Anyway, it is probably too late to book lodging and probably not too late to cancel.

Hama Rikyu can be reached by boat from Asakusa as well as by metro.

The Peony Garden at Hama-rikyu Gardens in Tokyo features over 60 different types of peonies, with roughly 800-1,000 plants blooming in brilliant colors. The best time to view them is from mid-April to mid-May, with peak blooms often appearing in late April. The peony garden is located near the 300-year-old pine tree, close to the Otemon Gate.

Visiting there during the peony bloom is still on my wish list.

We've decided to drop Hirayu Onsen from our itinerary much as I had wanted to visit. It has taken the pressure off the end of our trip and allows us to spend more time in Shirakawago and Takayama before heading back to Tokyo either by bus or train. I'm in the process of waiting to book our bus trips until a month before our scheduled date and appreciate very much the links you've provided Reading54. I'm quite interested in Hama Rikyu with all the peonies (love peonies) and are hoping to catch a glimpse of some shrines during the Sanja Festival in Tokyo. Very excited to be going. Thank you for all your help and patience.

I think your decision is a wise one!

Hello Kerrylou, you’re welcome! I hope you’re able to get all the tickets you want as soon as they become available for booking.

It appears that there are 3 unreserved buses from Shirakawago to Takayama in the afternoon (15:15, 16:15, and 17:30). This option is only if you can't book reserved seats online and must queue at the Shirakawago ticket counter when you arrive. However, I wonder what would happen if those seats were sold out. Will they let customers stand on the bus?

The buses have jump seats that fold down into the aisle. That is what I would expect, almost guaranteed.
No standing, IIRC.

Thank you mrwunrfl. We're short so not expecting problems with leg space!