Central Honshu

Hello travellers,
We are going to Japan in April for 2,5 weeks with main bases in Kyoto and Tokyo. In between we would like to visit Tsumago & Magome and considering adding Kamikochi and Takayama. We will have a little one of 9 months in tow and are thus wondering if it would be more manageable if we rent a car, to avoid early or late bus schedules. Would you recommend visiting those places by car, and if so, where would you say is the best place for pick up and delivery (where they are also likely to have car seats for babies...).
Or would you say it is worth sticking to tsumago & Magome and take public transport?
Any other recommendations welcome :)
Arigato

Kamikochi opens around mid April, which might or might not affect your plans.

wondering if it would be more manageable if we rent a car, to avoid early or late bus schedules

Buses on these routes are daytime only (or at least mostly) as far as I remember. If all you want to see are the places you mention, I don't really see the need for a car and with 2.5 weeks you are not short on time either. Everything is well connected by public transport and you can't take a private car to Kamikochi anyway.

A car could be useful if you think you want to stop somewhere along the way or if you travel with too much luggage. However if you add one way rental fee and highway toll, you are most certainly going to spend more than for two people on public transport.

Or would you say it is worth sticking to tsumago & Magome and take public transport?

Why do you want to stick to these? At least Matsumoto would be on the way too if you travel Tokyo-Matsumoto-Tsumago/Magome-Kyoto.

Thanks for the quick and very useful feedback bamse. I see kamikochi might not be an option. Matsumoto could be interesting indeed. We don't need to stick to tsumago and magome but it looks interesting, would you advise other places instead?

Thanks for the quick and very useful feedback bamse. I see kamikochi might not be an option. Matsumoto could be interesting indeed. We don't need to stick to tsumago and magome but it looks interesting, would you advise other places instead?

Its a nice walk,though I've never done it with a baby.Its not really difficult though,I guess you can carry the baby in a sling?

Matsumoto is well worth at least a day.One of the best castles in Japan,and a couple of interesting art museums......if you like that sort of thing!

Thanks lucapal, we always carry the baby in a sling and walk quite a lot so I thought it could be feasible (he'll be a bit heavier by then of course but it should be OK).
I am interested in museums but need good arguments to drag the hubby :D nonetheless matsumoto can surely be interesting, good tip :)

We don't need to stick to tsumago and magome but it looks interesting, would you advise other places instead?

I understood that (if you don't rent a car) you'd stick to Tsumago/Magome (and skip Matsumoto/Takayama/Kamikochi) and that's what I was commenting on. Tsumago/Magome (and potentially other post towns in the Kiso valley) are small, quiet, nature-ish place and should be perfectly fine, also with a 9 month old if you are willing to carry him.

If you go, there Matsumoto would be on the way and well worth a day or so. How much you want to extend the trip through the Alps is up to you. Takayama, Shirakawago, Kamikochi, Kanazawa, the Tateyama Kurobe route (with snow corridor; opens around mid April), some onsen town or even the snow monkeys are all decent options IMO.

These places are all fairly easy to do by public transport, even if you have a 9 month old.

Japanese roads are somewhat annoying to drive if you are not use to them. Parking is expensive and navigation can be confusing.

Still if you want to rent a car, some people love it.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.