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Hirayu Onsen: A Base Between Takayama and Kamikochi

How to get to Hirayu Onsen by bus, where to bathe, and how to use it as a base for Kamikochi, Shinhotaka and Matsumoto, from official pages checked on October 22, 2026.

Researched & written byRural Japan GuidesHow I researchSources17 sourceslisted at the endLast checkedDetails can change — check the official site before you travel.Read3 min
The main street of Hirayu Onsen with inns, a pine tree and snow-capped mountains behind

Hirayu Onsen in winter. Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5

The short answer
  • Hirayu Onsen is about an hour from Takayama by Nohi Bus, ¥1,600 one way. The last bus back to Takayama leaves at 17:30.
  • From the Hirayu bus terminal, buses run on to Kamikochi (until November 15, 2026), Shinhotaka and Matsumoto.
  • Two day-use baths: Hirayu no Yu, a simple public bath, and Hirayu no Mori, with 16 open-air baths.
My pick

Stay a night in Hirayu if you want an early start to Kamikochi.

Buses from Hirayu to Kamikochi start at 5:00 on the days the early buses run, before any bus from Takayama arrives.

The ride from Hirayu to Kamikochi takes about 25 minutes.

  1. 1KamikochiAbout 25 min, ¥1,500, until Nov 15, 2026
  2. 2Shinhotaka RopewaySame bus line as from Takayama
  3. 3MatsumotoHighway bus, ¥3,000, reservation required

Hirayu Onsen sits in the mountains east of Takayama, where the road to Kamikochi and Matsumoto begins. Hida Takayama Tourism calls it the oldest hot-spring resort in Okuhida, and its bus terminal is where buses from Takayama meet the buses to Kamikochi and Mt. Norikura. This guide covers the bus there, the baths and how to use Hirayu as a base. For Takayama itself, see my Takayama guide.

Getting to Hirayu Onsen from Takayama

  • Bus: Nohi Bus's Shinhotaka line from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center.
  • Time: 53–58 minutes.
  • Fare: ¥1,600 one way for adults; children aged 6 to 12 pay half.
  • How often: about once an hour. The timetable I checked has 15 departures from Takayama, 6:00 to 18:40, but some run only in set periods.
  • Last bus back: 17:30 from Hirayu, arriving in Takayama at 18:31.
  • Tickets: buy at the counter or ticket machine before you board; if they are closed, pay on the bus.
Snow and trafficLeave time to spare

Nohi Bus warns that heavy snow or traffic in Takayama can delay this bus badly. In winter, the tourist association warns of heavy snow on mountain roads.

Onward from Hirayu

To Time Adult fare Book?
Kamikochi About 25 min (timetable) ¥1,500 (round trip ¥2,800) No; non-reserved
Shinhotaka Ropeway About 35–45 min ¥910 No
Matsumoto — ¥3,000 Yes

"—" means I have not confirmed a time from Hirayu itself.

  • Kamikochi: buses leave Hirayu every 30 minutes from 5:00 to 17:00 (some early buses only on set days) until November 15, 2026. Private cars and rental cars cannot drive into Kamikochi. From Takayama, a transfer ticket via Hirayu costs ¥3,000 one way or ¥5,800 round trip, valid for 7 days; see my Japanese Alps without a car guide for the wider trip.
  • Shinhotaka: the same bus from Takayama continues to the Shinhotaka Ropeway; on the timetable I checked, buses take about 35 to 45 minutes from Hirayu, for example 9:40 → 10:16.
  • Matsumoto: the Takayama–Matsumoto highway bus stops at Hirayu Onsen. It needs a reservation, on highwaybus.com from one month ahead or by phone at +81-577-32-1688, 9:00–17:00 Japan time.

Hot springs in Hirayu

  • Hirayu no Yu: a public bath with one open-air bath each for men and women and no washing area. Open 6:00–21:00 (8:00–21:00 in winter), closed on irregular days; a donation of about ¥300.
  • Hirayu no Mori: a day-use bath with 16 open-air baths (7 for men, 9 for women), open 10:00–21:00, last entry 20:30. Adults ¥700, children ¥500; towels ¥200, bath towels ¥500.
  • The footbath by the bus stop: the free Alps Kaido Hirayu footbath lets you soak your feet while you wait for the bus. When I checked on October 22, 2026, it was closed because the water had cooled.

The tourist association tells Hirayu's origin story: when Takeda Shingen's army invaded Hida, an old monkey was found healing its wounds in the hot water. In the Edo period, lords from the Hokuriku region lodged here.

For day baths in Takayama itself and in the other Okuhida villages, see my Takayama onsen guide.

Staying in Hirayu

The Okuhida tourist association lists inns in Hirayu including Ryokan Tsuyukusa, Okada Ryokan Warakutei, Sanso Yunosato, Hirayu Prince Hotel, Tanaka Inn and Yuuka Sanzoan. The Hirayu Onsen Tourist Information Center is on +81-578-89-3030.

A night here suits an early start to Kamikochi. From Hirayu, the first Kamikochi bus leaves at 5:00 on the days it runs. From Takayama, the earliest bus, at 6:00, runs only from July 19 to August 24; it reaches Hirayu at 6:53 and connects with the 7:00 to Kamikochi.

How I checked this

  1. Bus times and fares from Nohi Bus's Shinhotaka, Kamikochi and Matsumoto line pages.
  2. Baths and history from the Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association and Hirayu no Mori.
  3. All checked on October 22, 2026; timetables change by season.
Nohi BusOkuhida Onsengo Tourist AssociationHida Takayama TourismHirayu no Mori
What I could not confirm yet
  • Facilities at the Hirayu bus terminal, such as lockers
  • Walking times from the bus terminal to the two baths
  • The travel time from Hirayu to Matsumoto
  • Room prices at Hirayu's inns

Getting to Hirayu Onsen from Tokyo or Osaka

From Tokyo

Highway bus from Shinjuku to Takayama (about 5 hours 45 minutes), then Nohi Bus to Hirayu (about 1 hr).

From Osaka

Shinkansen to Nagoya and the Hida limited express to Takayama, then Nohi Bus to Hirayu (about 1 hr).

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Takayama to Hirayu Onsen?

Take the Nohi Bus Shinhotaka line from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center. It takes 53–58 minutes and costs ¥1,600 one way for adults. Buses leave about once an hour; the 6:00 runs only from July 19 to August 24, so check the day's times at the bus center.

What is the last bus from Hirayu Onsen to Takayama?

17:30, arriving in Takayama at 18:31, on the timetable I checked.

How do I get from Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi?

Nohi Bus runs from Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi in about 25 minutes, ¥1,500 one way or ¥2,800 round trip for adults, until November 15, 2026. Seats cannot be reserved. Private cars cannot drive into Kamikochi, so the bus is the usual way in.

Can I bathe in Hirayu Onsen without staying the night?

Yes. Hirayu no Yu is a public bath with one open-air bath each for men and women, open 6:00–21:00 (8:00–21:00 in winter), for a donation of about ¥300. Hirayu no Mori has 16 open-air baths and charges ¥700 for adults, 10:00–21:00.

Is Hirayu Onsen open in winter?

Hirayu no Yu stays open on winter hours, 8:00–21:00, but the Kamikochi bus stops after November 15. The tourist association warns of heavy snow on mountain roads in winter.

Keep planning

TakayamaTakayama 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.Japanese Alps itineraryDay-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.Japanese Alps without a carThe Japanese Alps by bus and train: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Kamikochi, Matsumoto and Hakuba, with fares, reservations and winter closures.

Sources

  1. Okuhida Onsen-go — Hida Takayama Tourism
  2. Okuhida Onsen-go — Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association
  3. Hot springs — Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association
  4. Access — Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association
  5. Hirayu no Yu — Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association
  6. Alps Kaido Hirayu footbath — Okuhida Onsengo Tourist Association
  7. Hot spring — Hirayu no Mori
  8. Takayama – Hirayu Onsen – Shinhotaka bus — Nohi Bus
  9. Shinhotaka line (English) — Nohi Bus
  10. Kamikochi line — Nohi Bus
  11. Access by car — Kamikochi Tourism Association
  12. Takayama – Matsumoto highway bus — Nohi Bus
  13. Takayama – Matsumoto highway bus (reservations) — Nohi Bus
  14. Bus tickets — Nohi Bus
  15. Takayama – Shinjuku highway bus — Nohi Bus
  16. Hida Takayama (access) — JR Central
  17. Getting to Takayama — Hida Takayama Tourism

Researched and checked by Rio, based in Japan. I read Japanese timetables, operator PDFs and prefecture notices, cross-check them and date every fact. Published . Updated . How I research →