Train or Bus from Nikko, Hakone, etc
 

We will travel from Tokyo to Nikko for 1 night then to Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, S-Go, then Kyoto. Is it possible to do all of that on trains or are we required to return to Tokyo from Nikko to travel to Hakone, then back to Tokyo to arrive at Matsumoto, etc.? Appreciate your insight.

If you look at japan-guide.com, and find the web-page for any specific destination (which you can do by typing in the search box to the upper right) and then clicking on the first link you get through that search (or at least, generally the first link), you will see the word "ACCESS" as the 3rd of 5 words to the left under the top photograph. Click on it. Then click on "Getting to and around [whatever]".

OR go to hyperdia and see what routing options it gives you.

Hope that helps!

I find Google Maps helpful for Japan logistics. I suggest putting just one pair of places in together at a time, and then try clicking on the various icons for different modes of transportation, and see what comes up.

Tokyo to Nikko by rail: either JR or the less expensive Tobu Railways. The choice could depend on where you stay in Tokyo, not just price (e.g. if Asakusa then take Tobu, if Shinjuku then maybe JR). There are tour buses and probably highway buses.

Shirakawago is the only stop on your list that does not have rail service. S-go is between Takayama and Kanazawa and is served by buses from both cities. I think there is also bus service from Toyama, Takaoka, and seasonally from Nagoya. Am sure about the bus from Takaoka because I used it.

You would go through Tokyo on the way from Nikko to Hakone. Most convenient would be Nikko- Utsunomiya- Tokyo- Odawara.

From Hakone you would probably take a train back to Tokyo to get to Matsumoto. Go via Tokyo and/or Shinjuku or Hachioji. But going via Nagoya is also an option.

From Matsumoto you can take a train to Takayama but a more direct route is by bus. Then bus to S-go and bus to Kanazawa. Or train from Takayama to Kanazawa and then bus to S-go.

There is a bus from Shinjuku to Matsumoto that continues into the mountains where you can connect to a bus to Takayama. FAIK, it might now go on to Takayama.

A simple way would be to take the Odakyu Railways train from Hakone-Yumoto to Shinjuku and then take the JR limited express train to Matsumoto.

The JNTO Practical Travel Guides might help: www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/travelguide.html

THANK YOU ALL. YOU ARE SO KIND. REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Go to Hyperdia.com and input your itinerary. It will give you options.

Bus is usually cheaper and still comfortable.
Train is perfect if u have a rail pass