All guides

Gero Onsen Without a Car: Baths, Trains & Day Trips

Gero Onsen without a car: the Hida train from Nagoya and Takayama, the public bath and free footbaths, the bath pass and day trips to Takayama, Magome and Gujo.

Hakuba Without a Car: Buses, Costs, Where to Stay & Seasons

Hakuba without a car: trains and the Nagano bus, winter reservations, shuttles and taxis, where to stay, snow and seasons, from official pages.

Japanese Alps Without a Car: Routes, Passes & Costs

The Japanese Alps by bus and train: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Kamikochi, Matsumoto and Hakuba, with fares, reservations and winter closures.

Kamikochi Without a Car: Access, Season & Stays

Kamikochi without a car: buses from Matsumoto and Takayama, the April 17 – November 15 season, walks from Kappa Bridge and where to stay, from official pages.

Shirakawa-go Without a Car: Buses, Stays & Seasons

Reach Shirakawa-go by bus from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama or Nagoya: fares, reservations, luggage, staying overnight and what changes in snow season.

Takayama Without a Car: Trains, Buses & Day Trips

Takayama without a car: the train and buses in, the old town on foot, day-trip buses to Shirakawa-go and Kamikochi, luggage and seasons, from official pages.

Things to Do in Kanazawa by Train & Bus

Kanazawa without a car: the Shinkansen from Tokyo, Kenrokuen, the castle, Higashi Chaya and Omicho by city bus, day trips to Shirakawa-go, from official pages.

Things to Do in Matsumoto by Train & Bus: Castle & Day Trips

Matsumoto without a car: the castle, the art museum and the old streets on foot, day trips to Kamikochi, Hakuba, Narai and the wasabi farm, from official pages.

Things to Do in Nagano Without a Car: Zenkoji & Day Trips

Nagano without a car: the Shinkansen in, Zenkoji Temple by bus and day trips to the snow monkeys, onsen towns, Togakushi and Hakuba, from official pages.

Things to Do in Toyama Without a Car: Trams and Day Trips

Toyama without a car: the trams, the glass museum, Kansui Park and Iwase, day trips to Kurobe Gorge, Tateyama and Takaoka, and what closes in late autumn.

Flights to Toyama or the Shinkansen: Times and Airport Bus

Getting to Toyama without a car: ANA flights from Haneda and Sapporo, the airport bus to Toyama Station, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen, with winter 2026–27 times.

Gujo Hachiman, Japan: Things to Do by Train and Bus

Gujo Hachiman without a car: the castle, spring water and Gujo Odori dances, plus buses from Nagoya, Gifu and Takayama and the train via Mino-Ota.

Hakuba in December: Snow, Opening Dates and New Year

What Hakuba is like in December: how much snow to expect, which ski areas have announced opening dates for 2026–27, the weather and what changes over New Year.

Hakuba to Narita & Haneda: Direct Bus vs Train

Hakuba to Narita or Haneda without a car: the winter airport shuttle, the night bus to Nagano and the train via Tokyo, with times, fares and luggage.

Hakuba to Tokyo by Train: Shinkansen + Bus vs Express

Getting from Hakuba back to Tokyo without a car: the bus to Nagano and the Shinkansen, or the one Azusa to Shinjuku, with November 2026 times and connections.

Hokuriku Shinkansen Tickets and Passes: Prices Compared

Hokuriku Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Kanazawa and Toyama compared with the Hokuriku Arch Pass, JR Pass and area passes: prices, coverage, where to buy.

Japanese Alps Itinerary Without a Car (5–7 Days + Costs)

Day-by-day 5- and 7-day Japanese Alps itineraries by bus and train: where to sleep, where your luggage goes and estimated transport costs by season.

Matsumoto Station: Trains & Buses, Times and Fares

Matsumoto Station without a car: the Azusa or highway bus to Shinjuku, the Shinano to Nagoya and Nagano, buses to Takayama and Kamikochi plus the town buses.

Matsumoto to Hakuba by Bus & Train: Routes & Times

Every way from Matsumoto to Hakuba without a car: the Oito Line via Shinano-Omachi, the winter bus and the Nagano detour, compared by time, bus fare and season.

Matsumoto to Kamikochi by Train and Bus: Times and Fares

Matsumoto to Kamikochi without a car: the train and bus via Shin-Shimashima or the direct bus, fares, the last bus back and the winter closure.

Minshuku vs Ryokan: What a Minshuku Is and How to Book One

What a minshuku is, how it differs from a ryokan, and how to book one in Shirakawa-go, Magome and Takayama through the local tourism associations.

Sending Skis & Suitcases to Hakuba: Rules & Costs

How to send skis, boards and suitcases to Hakuba with Yamato: where they arrive, the deadline before you ski, size limits and rates from Tokyo or Osaka.

Shirakawa-go Bus from Kanazawa & Takayama: Reserving Seats

Shirakawa-go buses from Kanazawa and Takayama in both directions: travel times, fares after the December 2026 change, reservations, luggage and winter delays.

Takayama Ryokan: Where to Stay Without a Car

Where to stay in Takayama without a car: which area, what a ryokan includes, onsen ryokan near the station, the accommodation tax and festival dates.

Takayama Station: Exits, Lockers and Highway Bus Booking

Takayama Station without a car: the two exits, the Nohi Bus Center, coin lockers and how to book highway buses to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa and Matsumoto.

Takayama to Kamikochi by Bus: Hirayu Transfer Times

Takayama to Kamikochi without a car: the bus change at Hirayu Onsen, first and last buses, the ¥5,800 return ticket and the dates the road closes for winter.

Takayama vs Kanazawa vs Matsumoto: Which Base Suits You?

Takayama, Kanazawa or Matsumoto as a car-free base: trains from Tokyo and Nagoya, day trips to Shirakawa-go, Kamikochi and Hakuba, bus links and luggage.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Tickets: Prices and Passes

Alpine Route tickets for 2026: fares by section, web tickets vs same-day tickets, boarding times, the Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto pass and Kurobe Gorge.

Where to Stay in Hakuba Without a Car

Hakuba's areas compared for a car-free stay: Happo, Hakuba Station, Goryu, Iwatake, Tsugaike and Norikura, by bus stop, bus fare and ski shuttle line.

Where to Stay in Kanazawa Without a Car: Areas by Bus Time

Kanazawa's areas compared for a car-free stay: the station, Omicho, Higashi Chaya, Korinbo and Kenrokuen, by bus stop and minutes from the station.

Topic

Seasons & local experiences

Japanese Alps in Winter Without a Car: Snow by Bus and Train

Which parts of the Japanese Alps you can reach by bus and train from December to March, what closes for winter, which buses to book and snow delays to plan for.

Hakuba Onsen Guide: Day Baths, Tattoos and Access

Hakuba's day-use onsen compared: fees, hours and seasons, which baths you can walk to from the bus, the tattoo rules and the ¥1,200 shared bath ticket.

Hakuba Restaurants: Booking, Closing Times and Where to Eat

How to book Hakuba restaurants in English, when tables sell out and kitchens close, and where Hakuba Village lists places to eat near the station and in Happo.

Hakuba Valley Pass 2026–27: Prices, Rules and Value

The 2026–27 Hakuba Valley All-Mountain Day Pass: prices for 1 to 10 days, ages, buying it online, the free shuttle and when Happo-one's own ticket costs less.

Hakuba vs Niseko Without a Car: Access, Passes and Buses

Hakuba and Niseko compared for a ski trip without a car: the airport bus, train routes, 2026–27 lift pass prices, season dates and how the shuttles work.

Hirayu Onsen from Takayama: Buses, Baths and Onward Routes

Hirayu Onsen without a car: the bus from Takayama, the public baths, inns, and buses on to Kamikochi, Shinhotaka and Matsumoto, with 2026 fares.

Japan in Winter for Non-Skiers: Snow Sights by Train

Winter in central Japan without skis: 2027 dates, prices and train times for the snow monkeys, Kenrokuen's snow ropes, the Shirakawa-go light-up and more.

Nagano Onsen Without a Car: Day Baths by Train and Bus

Onsen you can reach from Nagano Station without a car: Yudanaka and Shibu, Nozawa Onsen's 13 free public baths and Togura-Kamiyamada, with official hours.

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up: Dates, Reservations & Buses

How the Shirakawa-go winter light-up works in January 2027: the four dates, the five ways to get an entry ticket, the reserved tour buses and snow.

Snow Monkeys Without a Car: Buses, Tickets and the Walk

How to see the snow monkeys at Jigokudani by bus or train from Nagano: winter 2026–27 bus times, the new entry fees from December 1, the walk in and the rules.

Takayama Onsen Guide: Day Baths & Okuhida by Bus

Hot springs from Takayama without a car: the day bath near town, the Okuhida Onsen villages by Nohi Bus, bath hours and prices, bus passes and winter closures.

Takayama in Winter: Snow Days, Buses & Day Trips

Takayama from December to March without a car: buses that still run to Shirakawa-go and Shinhotaka, New Year stops, snow delays and why Kamikochi is out.

Topic

Old roads & walking

Nakasendo Trail Without a Car: Sections, Bags & Stays

Walk the Nakasendo through Magome, Tsumago and Narai by train and bus: which sections to walk, trains from Nagoya and Kyoto and where to sleep.