3days

Travel Plan

6 Best Travel Plans to Get Around the Holy Land of Samurai and Ninja

Travel Summary

A tour of Central Japan using the Shoryudo 3-Day Pass (Matsumoto - Magome - Japan Alps). Walk through the old town of Takayama, view the national treasure Matsumoto Castle, and visit Okuhida Hot Spring Village, a resort area famous for its hot springs.

[ Recommended Tickets: Shoryudo Bus Pass 3days ]

  • Day 1

    • Nagoya
    • Komagane Ropeway
    • Senjojiki Cirque
    • Hayataro Hot Spring Village
    • Nagoya

  • Day 2

    • Takayama Jinya
    • Old Town
    • Okuhida Hot Spring Village

  • Day 3

    • Shinhotaka Ropeway
    • Hirayu Hot Spring
    • Matsumoto Castle
    • Ueda Castle
    • Zenkoji Temple

Day 1

  • Start
    Take the train about 30 minutes from Central Japan International Airport Station to Meitetsu Nagoya Station
  • Nagoya
    Depart for your first destination, Komagane!
    Take the express bus about 150 minutes from the Meitetsu Bus Center to the Komagane Interchange
    Then take the local bus from Nyotai-Iriguchi to Shirabidaira
  • Nagano
    (Komagane)

    • Komagane Ropeway

      The summit station with the highest elevation in Japan! Enjoy the dynamic view of the Central Alps from the ropeway.

    • Senjojiki Cirque

      Senjojiki Cirque is famous for its spectacular view. Created by glaciers about 20,000 years ago, the scenery is breathtaking!

    • Hayataro Hot Spring Village

      A hot spring village nestled at the foot of the Central Alps. Day-trip baths are available.
  • Take the express bus about 150 minutes from Shirabidaira to Nyotai-Iriguchi
    Then take the express bus from the Komagane Inter Change to the Meitetsu Bus Center
  • Nagoya Back in Nagoya, enjoy Nagoya Meshi, the same food the warlords of the area loved.

Day 2

  • Take the train about 30 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Meitetsu Gifu Station
  • Gifu
    Take the express bus about 120 minutes from the Meitetsu-Gifu Bus Terminal to the Takayama Bus Terminal
  • Takayama

    • Takayama Jinya

      The last residence of the Edo period. Check out the traditional Japanese pattern Aomiha painted on the alcove and the beautiful garden.

    • Old Town

      Stroll through the old townscape with its Edo period atmosphere.
  • Take the express bus about 100 minutes from the Takayama Bus Terminal to Tochio Onsen
  • Takayama Okuhida Hot Spring Village Okuhida Hot Spring Village has over 100 thermal springs. There are a variety of hot springs, from casual foot baths to private baths and open-air baths.

Day 3

  • Take the local bus about 30 minutes from Tochio Onsen to Shinhotaka Ropeway
  • Shinhotaka (Takayama)

    • Shinhotaka Ropeway

      Take Japan's only double-decker ropeway to the mountain summit! A new viewing spot overlooking the Northern Alps opened in the fall of 2022.
  • Take the local bus about 30 minutes from Shinhotaka Ropeway to Hirayu Onsen
  • Okuhida (Takayama)

    • Hirayu Onsen

      Hirayu Onsen was discovered by Shingen Takeda, a warlord in the Warring States period.
  • Take the express bus about 90 minutes from Hirayu Onsen to Matsumoto Bus Terminal
  • Matsumoto

    • Matsumoto Castle

      Matsumoto Castle is the oldest castle in Japan among the remaining five-tiered, six-story donjon castles. The beautiful castle stands against the backdrop of the Japanese Alps.

    • Ueda Castle

      Ueda Castle is known as an impregnable castle. Visitors can meet the Shinshu Ueda Omotenashi Bushotai.

    • Zenkoji Temple

      A Buddhist temple where visitors can experience sutra copying and zazen meditation, and see a hidden Buddha statue. In the Edo period (1603-1867), this temple was so revered that the phrase, "Once in a lifetime, Zenkoji" was coined.
  • Take the express bus about 210 minutes from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal to the Meitetsu Bus Center
  • Nagoya
    Take the train about 30 minutes from Metetsu Nagoya Station to Central Japan International Station
  • Goal
    Chubu Centrair International Airport Your trip is almost over. Have you left anything undone?
    Don't worry. There are many souvenir stores and restaurants inside the Chubu Centrair International Airport, where you can taste the local specialties of the Central Japan Region.