Home Shinjuku (Tokyo) Kamikochi Looking for a cheap highway bus ticket to Kamikochi, but no seats are available? There's another way!

Looking for a cheap highway bus ticket to Kamikochi, but no seats are available?
There's another way!

You can even explore Hirayu Onsen and other areas of the Okuhida Onsengo Hot Springs region.


 The only way to reach Kamikochi is by bus, authorized taxi, bicycle, or on foot.

Highway bus is easily the most convenient way to get to Kamikochi if you are coming from Tokyo.

By train
You will need to take the Kamikochi Line from Matsumoto Station and get off at Shinshimashima Station, and then take a bus for approximately one more hour to Kamikochi.

By car
You will need to park your vehicle at either the Sawando Car Park (closer to Matsumoto on the Nagano Prefecture side) or the Akandana Car Park (closer to Takayama on the Gifu Prefecture side) and then take a bus for approximately 20–30 minutes.


Kamikochi and location of nearby centers



Reasons why a side trip to Hirayu Onsen is cheaper and more relaxing...

Travelling via Hirayu Onsen is about ¥6,000 cheaper (round trip)!

Highway buses operate directly between Shinjuku and Kamikochi.
The trip takes about four and a half hours and costs around ¥10,000 for a one-way adult ticket.
Four or five highway bus services also operate on a daily basis between Shinjuku and Hirayu Bus Terminal, which is located not too far away from Kamikochi. This trip also takes about four and a half hours and costs around ¥5,300–¥6,200 for a one-way adult ticket.
Buses ferry passengers between Hirayu Bus Terminal and Kamikochi at 30-minute intervals. The trip takes 20–25 minutes and costs ¥1,180 one way, or ¥2,090 return.

  • Shinjuku ⇔ Kamikochi
    Round-trip direct bus service: Around ¥20,000
  • Shinjuku ⇔ Hirayu Onsen ⇔ Kamikochi
    Round-trip via Hirayu Onsen: Around ¥14,000 (about ¥6,000 cheaper)
  • Shinjuku → Hirayu Onsen → Kamikochi → Shinjuku
    One-way direct bus service and one way via Hirayu Onsen: Around ¥17,000 (about ¥3,000 cheaper)

What's Hirayu Onsen like?

HIrayu Onsen is the gateway to the Okuhida Onsengo Hot Springs.
With around 30 lodging facilities of various sizes, it is the largest hot spring town in the vicinity of Kamikochi. The town is centered around the Hirayu Bus Terminal and just about everything is within walking distance. Other than being a place to stay, the town has plenty of restaurants and hot spring facilities that cater to day-trippers.
Hirayu Onsen has a plentiful supply of high-temperature hot spring water. There are approximately 40 spring sources discharging roughly 13,000 liters of water per minute at a temperature of around 90°C.

  • Tokyo (Shinjuku)
  • Hirayu Onsen

Adults From 5,300JPY to 6,200JPY
Children From 2,650JPY to 3,100JPY
(Travel time: Approx. 4h 40min)

Reservation
  • Hirayu Onsen
  • Tokyo (Shinjuku)

Adults From 5,300JPY to 6,200JPY
Children From 2,650JPY to 3,100JPY
(Travel time: Approx. 4h 40min)

Reservation

Suggested Kamikochi Itineraries

The itineraries suggested below are based on bus timetables for the summer season.
They may include the use of a seasonal bus service. Please be sure to check timetables in advance.

1.  Hiking and cycling!

Day 1

  • Depart Shinjuku 08:15 → (Shakado PA/Suwako SA) → Arrive Hirayu Onsen 12:55
  • Lunch in Hirayu Onsen 13:00–14:00
  • Hirayu Nature Trail and Hirayu Waterfall hiking 14:00–16:30
  • Hirayu Onsen hotel check-in 16:30

Day 2

  • Cycle to Kamikochi
  • Depart Hirayu Onsen 08:00 → (via Abo Pass on an e-bike) → Arrive Kamikochi Bus Terminal 11:00
  • Kamikochi (lunch/stroll)
  • Depart Kamikochi 14:00 → (via Abo Pass on an e-bike) → Arrive Hirayu Onsen 17:00
  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 18:05 *Operates between April 7 and November 4 → (Suwako SA/Shakado PA) → Arrive Shinjuku 22:45

2.  Hot spring and Kamikochi!

Day 1

  • Depart Shinjuku 08:15 → (Shakado PA/Suwako SA) → Arrive Hirayu Onsen 12:55
  • Lunch in Hirayu Onsen 13:00–14:00
  • Hirayu Nature Trail and Hirayu Waterfall hiking 14:00–16:30
  • Hirayu Onsen hotel check-in 16:30

Day 2

  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 08:00 → (Abo Tunnel) → Arrive Kamikochi Bus Terminal 08:25
  • Kamikochi (stroll/lunch)
  • Depart Kamikochi Bus Terminal 15:00 *Operates between April 8 and November 6 → (Suwako SA/Dangozaka PA) → Arrive Shinjuku 19:47

3.  Ropeway and Kamikochi!

Day 1

  • Depart Shinjuku 07:05 → (Shakado PA/Suwako SA) → Arrive Hirayu Onsen 11:55
  • Lunch in Hirayu Onsen
  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 12:40 → Arrive Shinhotaka Ropeway 13:16 (ride ropeway/stroll)
  • Depart Shinhotaka Ropeway 15:55 → Arrive Hirayu Bus Terminal 16:28
  • Hirayu Onsen hotel check-in 18:00

Day 2

  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 08:00 → (Abo Tunnel) → Arrive Kamikochi Bus Terminal 08:25
  • Kamikochi (stroll/lunch)
  • Depart Kamikochi Bus Terminal 15:00 *Operates between April 8 and November 6 → (Suwako SA/Dangozaka PA) → Arrive Shinjuku 19:47
    The Shinhotaka Ropeway will be closed for the following periods due to maintenance work.
  • No. 1 Ropeway: May 8 to July 20, 2023
  • No. 2 Ropeway: May 8 to August 9, 2023

4.  Trekking, mountain lodge, starry sky, sea of clouds, and Kamikochi!

Day 1

  • Depart Shinjuku 10:25 → (overnight bus)

Day 2

  • → Arrive Kamikochi Bus Terminal 05:20
  • Kamikochi (breakfast/stroll)
  • Depart Kamikochi 08:30 → (trekking) → Arrive Nishiho Hut 13:00
  • Lunch and overnight at Nishiho Hut

Day 3

  • Depart Nishiho Hut 07:00 → (trekking) → Nishiho Maruyama 07:30 → (trekking) → Arrive Nishiho Doppyo 10:00
  • Depart Nishiho Doppyo 10:30 → (trekking) → Arrive Nishiho Maruyama 11:30 → (trekking) → Arrive Nishiho Hut 12:00
  • Lunch at Nishiho Hut
  • Depart Nishiho Hut 13:00 → (trekking) → Depart Nishiho Takaguchi Station 14:45 → (ropeway) → Arrive Shinhotaka Onsen Station 15:10
  • Depart Shinhotaka Ropeway 15:55 → (local bus bound for Takayama) → Arrive Hirayu Bus Terminal 16:28
  • Take a bath at Hirayu-no-Mori
  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 18:05 *Operates between April 7 and November 4 → (Suwako SA/Shakado PA) → Arrive Shinjuku 22:45

5.  Norikura Tatamidaira and Kamikochi!

Please note that the Norikura Skyline will be closed to private vehicles in 2023.

Day 1

  • Depart Shinjuku 22:25 → (overnight bus)

Day 2

  • → Arrive Kamikochi Bus Terminal 05:20
  • Kamikochi (breakfast/stroll/lunch)
  • Depart Kamikochi Bus Terminal 15:00 → (Abo Tunnel) → Arrive Hirayu Bus Terminal 15:25
  • Hirayu Onsen hotel check-in 16:00

Day 3

  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 08:00 → (Norikura Skyline) → Arrive Norikura Tatamidaira 09:00
  • Norikura Tatamidaira (stroll/lunch)
  • Depart Norikura Tatamidaira 14:00 → (Norikura Skyline) → Arrive Hirayu Bus Terminal 15:00
  • Depart Hirayu Bus Terminal 16:05 → (Suwako SA/Shakado PA) → Arrive Shinjuku 20:45

  • Tokyo (Shinjuku)
  • Hirayu Onsen

Adults From 5,300JPY to 6,200JPY
Children From 2,650JPY to 3,100JPY
(Travel time: Approx. 4h 40min)

Reservation
  • Hirayu Onsen
  • Tokyo (Shinjuku)

Adults From 5,300JPY to 6,200JPY
Children From 2,650JPY to 3,100JPY
(Travel time: Approx. 4h 40min)

Reservation