Looking for a cheap bus ticket to Kamikochi, but can't secure a seat?
Try the back-door route via Matsumoto

Kamikochi is once again open to visitors in 2024.
Unlike before the COVID-19 pandemic and in previous years, Kamikochi is experiencing large throngs of domestic and international visitors after it officially opened to the public on April 17.
Therefore, securing a seat on one of the non-stop buses departing from Shinjuku has become increasingly difficult.

So, here is the second trick to secure a booking relatively easily and get from Shinjuku to Kamikochi (and back again) while saving some money in the process. In the first back-door route, we recommended taking a highway bus from Shinjuku to Takayama and then transferring at the Hirayu Bus Terminal. The second route, however, goes through Matsumoto.

This route to Kamikochi involves taking a highway bus from either the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal or the Hino bus stop on the Chuo Expressway.

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Most travelers transferring to the Alpico Kamikochi Line from a highway bus will do so at Matsumoto Station (nearby which is the Matsumoto Bus Terminal), but for the purpose of saving as much time as possible, our recommended route involves transferring to Oniwa Station by disembarking at the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop.

This will shorten your travel time by roughly 30 minutes.
And if you move quickly and manage to catch the earlier train, you will save one hour.

This back-door route prioritizes both time and cost.

Route

Highway bus and train transfer

Most travelers transfer from bus to train by walking the short distance (5 minutes) from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal to Matsumoto Station.

However, as you can see in the map below, this involves some needless backtracking between the Matsumoto Interchange and Matsumoto Station.
This is why we recommend you get off at the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop and transfer to the Alpico Kamikochi Line at Oniwa Station if you are heading to Kamikochi from Tokyo (Shinjuku), or vice versa.

Transferring between the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop and Oniwa Station on the Kamikochi Line

When walking from the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop to Oniwa Station, Google Maps will send you the long way around, as shown below.

This is because there is no pedestrian crossing at the Horigome intersection, which you will soon come to after getting off the bus. The red arrow shown in the image below indicates where you need to get to, but you will be unable to cross the road (route 158) here.

However, there is an underground walkway not shown on Google Maps that you can use to safely and quickly get to the other side of the road.

This tunnel is properly managed, clean, and relatively well-lit, and therefore safe to use.

After 25 minutes on the train, you will arrive at the last stop, Shin-shimashima Station. This is the closest train station to Kamikochi, and from here, it is approximately 65 minutes on local bus to the Kamikochi Bus Terminal.

After you board the train, please take a ticket from the dispenser located near the train doors. You will need it when disembarking.
You cannot use a Suica or other contactless pre-paid card on this train line, so be sure to have some coins handy.

From Oniwa Station on the Kamikochi Line to the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop

Highway bus reservations for Shinjuku~Matsumoto

About 24 round-trip highway bus services operate daily between Shinjuku and Matsumoto.

Reservation

 Recommended hotels nearby the Matsumoto Bus Terminal

Of the hotels we have actually stayed in, we think the following offer great value for money.

Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto
A modern, yet stylish, budget hotel very close to the Matsumoto Bus Terminal.
Offers complimentary services, including a free drink upon early check-in and ochazuke for those craving a late-night snack.
The spacious gender-separate public bath is also a highlight, which has been designed to resemble the famous Shirahone hot springs.
Great for families with children, as kids younger than elementary school age that can share a bed with a parent get to stay free.

Hotel M Matsumoto
Located on the 6th floor of a building in front of the Matsumoto Bus Terminal, which also houses the Maruzen bookstore and the Daiso 100-yen shop, this capsule and business hotel offers excellent value, a bright and clean environment, and is also safe for solo female travelers.
There is also a lounge and plenty of amenities, such as manga. The large communal bath is available for both men and women on an alternating schedule. This hotel is particularly recommended for solo travelers and as an overnight stay before heading up to Kamikochi.

Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Ekimae
Located approximately 400m and about a five-minute walk from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal. A stylish new hotel with an elaborate design and often utilized for weddings and other events.

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Other accommodation around Matsumoto Station and Matsumoto Bus Terminal