Kyoto-Matsumoto-Shinano Omachi-Alpine Route-Toyama-Kanazawa-Takayama-Nagoya

ourcruise777

Hi
The following is our itinerary for a group of 6 adults:
Oct 14 - Depart Kyoto to Matsumoto
Oct 16 – Depart Matsumoto to Shinano Omachi (overnight stay at Kurobe Kanko Hotel)
Oct 17 – Do the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Oct 17 – Overnight at Toyama (Tateyama Kokusia Hotel)
Oct 18 – Depart Toyama to Kanazawa
Oct 21 – Depart Kanazawa to Takayama (including trip to Shirakawago)
Oct 23 – Depart Takayama to Nagoya

Would appreciate any advice on the best pass to buy for the above itinerary.

Thank you in advance.

Tenjin

Hi,
There is no JR Pass that covers your travel and pays off. You would have to look at a regional rail pass or two to cover, or partially cover your plans. You might make things better by rearranging your schedule.
I suggest you look at the Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_alpen.html
http://touristpass.jp/en/alpine/
This pass can only be purchased before, and not after, arriving in Japan.

A Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass might be beneficial to you as well.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html

You'll need to see how you'd like to arrange your travels with the cost of regular fare tickets vs. using a pass.

You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com

Kindest regards.

ourcruise777

Thanks so much Tenjin.
The Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto-Area Toursit Pass (Y17,500) states that ‘It provides pass holders with five consecutive days of unlimited use of JR trains between Nagoya and Toyama, JR trains between Nagoya and Shinano-Omachi and transportation along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.’

Question - So, we can start the journey at Nagoya on Oct 14th, stop at Matsumoto for 3 days and on Oct 17th do the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route? Just want to make sure before we buy the pass.

Thanks.

Tenjin

Hi,
Yes, you can do that. If you start using the pass on the 14th, it would expire at midnight on the 18th.
Not sure what you're planning in Matsumoto for 3 days. It has a few very good places, but I can't see spending 3 days there. Nearby sights like the Kiso Valley and Narai may be of interest though.

ourcruise777

Thanks again, Tenjin. You've been so helpful.

In the earlier reply, you mentioned that it might be better if we rearrange our schedule. We are open to making changes to the schedule but not sure what changes to make.

Would really appreciate it if you could advise us how we can rearrange our schedule to make it better.

Thanks.

Tenjin

I'm afraid I don't know how flexible you are to changing the order of everything, and I did not run the numbers to see if for example the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass would fit in to your plans. You might go from Kyoto to Kanazawa first, for example, then go see Shirakawa-go and Takayama, then on the other pass, from Toyama for the Alpine Route. Use Hyperdia to see if the passes pay off according to how much you are willing to change things around.

Best of luck.