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Experiences & Reviews

  • 2024.09.03

Things to Know Before Booking Sunset Shibuya Sky Tickets

How to Get Guaranteed Access to Shibuya Sky at Sunset Hour/Sunset Time

Did you know there’s a rooftop observation deck at the top of Shibuya’s tallest high-rise building, Shibuya Scramble Square?

Shibuya at night

Shibuya Sky (SHIBUYA SKY) is directly connected to Shibuya Station about 230 meters above ground.

With the “SKY STAGE” skyscraper rooftop observation deck and the “SKY GALLERY” indoor observation corridor on the 46th floor, Shibuya Sky offers open and vast views from Shibuya skyline. While Shibuya Sky during the day is great in its own sense, sunset time (sunset hour) at dusk and the night time view are most popular!

We recommend that you purchase an online ticket in advance because this Shibuya Sky is a popular spot and it will be crowded. If you can’t secure a sunset ticket, we’ll teach you a loophole below.

※Estimated sunset times at SHIBUYA SKY

shibuya sky during the day
shibuya sky couple at night

Unfortunately, admission tickets for later evenings sell out quickly, and reservations are often sold out months in advance.

This is the booking calendar on the official website as of September 19, 2024.
As you can see, there’s almost no availability after 15:00 until October 17, 2024.

※ Although there is a designated time for entering Shibuya Sky, you can leave at any time as long as it is during business hours.

sold out reservation screen
sold out shibuya sky reservation screen
one available time left shibuya sky reservation screen
Shibuya Sky reservations (Official Website)

Most people come all the way to SHIBUYA SKY, but find out that sunset tickets have been sold out. There’s actually a way to fix this problem!

How to secure SHIBUYA SKY tickets at sunset times.

All you have to do is…

Purchase a ticket for the open-top bus “SHIBUYA STREET RIDE” that includes an admission voucher, also known as the “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket”! The “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket” gives you guaranteed access to SHIBUYA SKY at any time in the day.

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket

By purchasing this set of tickets, you will be able to get into Shibuya Sky even during sold-out times!

First, what is a SHIBUYA SKY set ticket?

shibuya bus top view
shibuya street ride
view of shibuya sky

The SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket is an online ticket voucher you are given when you ride SHIBUYA STREET RIDE.

The greatest advantage of this ticket voucher is that it guarantees admission to Shibuya Sky at any time.

When purchasing a regular ticket, you must specify the time of admission. This makes it almost impossible to purchase a ticket during sold-out times. You can use the “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket” any time after you get off at SHIBUYA STREET RIDE as long as its the same day. This is perfect if you are trying to secure a sunset ticket for a certain day on your trip, but didn’t have time to book ahead.


However, please note that this pass will only be available until the final entrance time of Shibuya Sky on the day of your trip. Re-entry is also not permitted.

During the daytime, you can take the open-top bus, and in the evening, you can enjoy the city of Shibuya on the Shibuya Sky.

The places you tour by bus are small and spread out around your feet, making for an interesting and memorable experience.

Details of SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY set ticket

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE has two routes:
・Shibuya Excursion Route
・Shibuya⇔Shinjuku Route（※September 2024～January 2025）
These are two popular routes.

Both routes are designed to take in the sights.

shibuya street ride car
view from shibuya street ride

The bus is an open-top bus specification with no roof on the second floor, allowing visitors to enjoy sightseeing from a perspective they would not normally be able to see.

Seats are equipped with multilingual audio guides and in-train monitors that provide information on each area during the trip. Of course, Japanese is also available.

It also comes with a digital version of a city walking guide to enjoy the streets of Shibuya even after getting off the bus.

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE Ride Experience

I immediately booked a SHIBUYA STREET and RIDE SHIBUYA SKY online set ticket.
This time, I rode on the round-trip route of SHIBUYA on the Shibuya Excursion route.

At the south exit of Shibuya Station is Shibuya Fuclas. There is a bus terminal there on the first floor.

The departure time was 11:25 but I arrived a before 11:00.
I was able to relax in the stylish area waiting area right in front of the bus stop.

shibuya fuclas bus terminal
shibuya street ride at shibuya fuclas

Before I knew it, a stylish open-top bus entered the boarding area shortly after 11:15.

Next, all you have to do is show the screen of your cell phone to the crew and board the train!

At this time, I received a voucher for admission to Shibuya Sky on the same day.

Now you can enjoy the evening and night views from Shibuya Sky ^^.

shibuya sky set ticket


This time, the route took me from the Scramble Crossing to Harajuku, Omotesando, and other areas around Shibuya.

The colorful seating inside the car will surely be Instagram-worthy if you take pictures!

On the second floor, you can feel the breeze and enjoy the view from a different perspective than usual.

The thrill of passing under an overpass is especially unique to this bus.

shibuya street ride seats
shibuya street ride view of national stadium

The bus first departs from Shibuya Fuklas and head towards Harajuku on Meiji Street.

Along the way, you can see Meiji Shrine and Takeshita-dori Avenue from a slightly elevated vantage point. After that we headed towards Sendagaya and Gaienmae.

As we reach Omotesando, we can see the National Stadium, which was the main venue for the Olympics. There were no power lines so you could see the view of the sky really clearly and it felt great!

In Omotesando, you can feel the street trees up close while overlooking the rows of high-end fashion stores.

Finally, I returned to Shibuya for the last time to view the scramble crossing. It is a luxurious feeling to be able to see the scene of many people coming and going from above, up close and personal.

I returned to the bus terminal on the ground floor of the Shibuya Fuklas– the area I departed from around 12:30 p.m.

After a leisurely lunch, I went for a stroll in Shibuya, using the digital version of the city walking guide that was in the pocket of the car!

Don’t forget to check the passcode in the car!
Since the audio is also recorded, wearing earphones is recommended.

shibuya street ride digital walking guide

It’s evening, and SHIBUYA SKY is located in Shibuya Scramble Square.

With this same-day admission voucher, I went to SHIBUYA SKY, and on the 14th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square I was able to register and enjoy the evening and night views.

“Crossing Lights,” a light show held every 30 minutes after 7:00 p.m. every day, is a unique nighttime experience. The performance is said to change with the seasons.

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket Details

shibuya sky at sunset pic 1
shibuya sky at sunset pic 2
twilight hour at shibuya sky
couple enjoying shibuya sky at night

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket Details

Estimated Sunset Times at SHIBUYA SKY

“Twilight Time” in Shibuya takes place 15 minutes after sunset.

This is the most beautiful time to see Shibuya Sky as day transitions into night. “Twilight Time” can be seen only in this 15 minute time frame.

Sunset times may vary by month. Please use this as a reference.

Sunset Times
(Towards the beginning of the month)		Sunset Times
(Towards the beginning of the month)
January4:40PM~5:10PM~
February5:10PM~5:35PM~
March5:35PM~6:00PM~
April6:00PM~6:25PM~
May6:25PM~6:50PM~
June6:50PM~7:00PM~
July7:00PM~6:45PM~
*Around July and August, the sun sets a bit earlier.
Sunset Times
(Towards the beginning of the month)		Sunset Times
(Towards the beginning of the month)
August6:35PM~6:10PM~
September6:10PM~5:25PM~
October5:25PM~4:45PM~
November4:45PM~4:30PM~
December4:30PM~4:40PM~
*From around December 12th, the sun sets a little later.

Even if tickets are sold out, as long as you have the Shibuya Sky Set Ticket, you can enjoy the beautiful views of SHIBUYA SKY at any time.

SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket
  • 2024.04.29

Full highway bus between Shinjuku and Kamikochi? Instead, take the bus via Matsumoto

Kamikochi Reopening

Kamikochi reopened again this year (2024).

Now that covid has subsided, a large influx of people have been swarming to Kamikochi as soon as it opens on April 17th. As a result, direct buses from Shinjuku have become difficult to book due to labor regulations for drivers and others starting in April 2024.

We will introduce a second back-up plan for traveling between Shinjuku and Kamikochi. This method is relatively easy to book and inexpensive.

An Overview: Shinjuku to Takayama

In Part 1, we showed you how to take the highway bus from Shinjuku to Takayama and transfer at the Hirayu Bus Terminal [ via Hirayu Bus Terminal (Hirayu Onsen) ], and this time we will show you the backstage procedure for the version via Matsumoto.

You can take a highway bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal or Hino Bus Station to Matsumoto bus terminal and head for Kamikochi.

Although it is common to use the ” Matsumoto Bus Terminal” and “Matsumoto Station” to connect the highway bus to the Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line, here we will use the “Matsumoto Inter-mae Bus Stop” and “Oniwa Station” on the Kamikochi Line to emphasize typa.

This backstage technique can shorten commute time by about 30 minutes.
If you can connect to a train one train earlier, you can also save an hour.

If you are short on money and time, this is a good backup route.

Route

Board the highway bus at the Shinjuku/Hino bus stop.
　　　⇕
(Highway Bus / to Matsumoto)
Approx. 190 min. from Shinjuku, 160 min. from Hino
　　　⇕
Get off the highway bus at the Matsumoto Interchange bus stop.
　　　⇕
( about 550m / 7-8 minutes walk )
　　　⇕
Board the train at Oba Station.
　　　⇕
( Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line )
　　Approx. 25 min.
　　　⇕
Get off the train at Niijima Station.
　Board a local bus at the Niijima Bus Terminal
　　　⇕
( Local bus bound for Kamikochi )
　　Approx. 65 min.
　　　⇕
Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Fees (Fares)

It costs about 7,000 yen one way.

The breakdown is
Shinjuku – Matsumoto Highway Bus: 3,300 – 4,000 yen/one way
　Reference 4-pack web coupon tickets
　　 Basta Shinjuku – Matsumoto 13,000 yen / 4 tickets （3,250 yen / 1 ticket)
　　 Hino bus stop – Matsumoto 11,400 yen/4 tickets (2,850 yen/1 ticket)
Oniwa – Niijima 590 yen/one way
　(Matsumoto – Niijima 710 yen/one way)
Shinshimadai – Kamikochi Bus Terminal 2,550 yen / one way
　All buses from Kamikochi to Niijimatsuri on the return trip will be operated on a reservation basis from FY2024.

Details & Reservations

The direct bus from Shinjuku to Kamikochi, “Sawayaka Shinshu-go,” has variable fares ranging from 8,000 yen to 16,000 yen.
Daytime 4-row seat: 8,000-12,000 yen (adult one-way)
Daytime flight 3-row seat: 10,000-14,000 yen (adult one-way)

Overnight 4-row seat: 10,000-14,000 yen (adult one-way)
Overnight flights 3-row seat: 12,000 yen – 16,000 yen (adult one-way)
　Fares vary depending on the day of operation.　 For details, click here.

The typical fee is 12,000-14,000 yen, which is almost half the price.

In other words, Save more than 10,000 yen round-trip (i.e., more than 10,000 yen savings for a round-trip flight)

We recommend using the “Matsumoto Bus Terminal” and “Matsumoto Station” if you plan to stay the night before or after in Matsumoto, or if you plan to shop or eat at Matsumoto.

If you stay the night before the tour, you can take the “National Park Liner,” a direct bus from Matsumoto to Kamikochi that departs from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal at 5:30 am and arrives at the Kamikochi Bus Terminal at 7:05 am, allowing you to enjoy Kamikochi in the early morning.
>> >> Details of National Park Liner

>> >> Recommended for the first night or the second night! Hotels near Matsumoto Bus Terminal

Express Bus and Rail Transfers

Express buses and trains generally use the “Matsumoto Bus Terminal” and “Matsumoto Station” for connections. The bus terminal and train station are a short 5-minute walk away.

However, as shown in the map below, it is necessary to make a round trip between the Matsumoto Interchange and Matsumoto Station, resulting in waste. Therefore, if you wish to go directly from Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Kamikochi or from Kamikochi directly to Tokyo (Shinjuku), we recommend that you transfer at the “Matsumoto Inter-mae Bus Stop” and “Oba Station” on the Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line.

The bus stop in front of the Matsumoto Interchange on the return trip (toward Shinjuku) has a waiting room that was renovated in June 2019 and is equipped with air conditioning, restrooms, and 9 charging stations (outlets, USB) for cell phones and other devices.

The round-trip fare via Matsumoto is more than 10,000 yen less than the direct bus service from Shinjuku to Kamikochi.
We also recommend that you spend the night before or after your stay in Matsumoto with the money you save. In this case, please use “Matsumoto Bus Terminal” and “Matsumoto Station”.

Matsumoto Interchange Bus Stop ⇔ Kamikochi Line Oba Station

If are routing to Oba Station using Google Maps, you will be directed to take the long way around as shown in the map below.

Google maps routes you this way because there is no pedestrian crossing at Horimae, the intersection just after getting off the bus.
The shortest way is to get to this stop is to follow the red arrow in the photo below. You cannot cross Route 158.


There is an underground promenade that does not appear on Google Maps that can be crossed safely and easily.

The underground promenade was well maintained and cleaned, and was relatively bright and safe.

From Oniwa Station, take the Kamikochi Line bound for Niijima-eki and arrive at the last stop, Niijima-eki, in about 25 minutes.
Niijima Station is the closest train station to Kamikochi, and from here it is a 65-minute bus ride to the Kamikochi Bus Terminal.
When boarding the Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line, please pick up a numbered ticket at the entrance.　It will be used when you get off the train.
Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line does not accept IC cards such as Suica. Please have coins ready.

Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line “Oba Station” ⇒ “Matsumoto Interchange-mae Bus Stop

Niijima Station
Niijima Bus Terminal

Shinjuku – Matsumoto Highway Bus Reservation

Highwaybus.com allows you to change/cancel reservations and select seats for highway buses.

There are approximately 24 round trips/day by express bus from Matsumoto to Shinjuku ↔ Matsumoto.
For reservations
↓↓↓↓
Highwaybus.com

Futaba service area by taking a break on the way

Recommended Hotels near Matsumoto Bus Terminal

These are recommended accommodations that our staff actually stayed at and found to be highly cost-effective.

Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto
A modern, stylish budget hotel specializing in overnight stays, located directly near the Matsumoto bus terminal.

Some benefits:

  • Drink service for early check-in
  • Tea and rice for the evening meal service
  • Large baths modeled after Shirakotsu Onsen hot springs
  • Children (elementary schoolers and younger) can stay for FREE!

Hotel M Matsumoto
Located right in front of the Matsumoto Bus Terminal on the 6th floor of a building that also houses Maruzen Bookstore and Daiso, this capsule and business hotel offers the best value for money.

Some benefits:

  • Bright and clean, its appealing for women solo-travelers
  • Lounge is stocked with comic books
  • Large public bath

Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Ekimae
It is about 400m, or 5 minutes away from the Matsumoto bus terminal.

Some benefits:

  • Stylish and elaborate/ often used for weddings
  • Recommended for girls trips, etc.

Other accommodations near Matsumoto Station and Matsumoto Bus Terminal

  • 2024.02.29

A Modern Coworking Space on the 7th floor of Matsumoto Bus Terminal

ALPICO PLAZA is a co-working space on the 7th floor of Alpico Plaza, a commercial building that houses the Matsumoto Bus Terminal, located right in front of Matsumoto Station.

It is only 500 yen a day and comes with a 100 yen coupon for a restaurant in the same building. With this in mind, it is actually only 400 yen/day.

For this price, we recommend using it as a power cafe for short periods of time (*eating and drinking are not allowed). I decided to try it out for this business trip– and it was nice to have a direct connection to the bus terminal!

I checked online for available seats on the express bus, made a reservation, worked until just before the departure time, and boarded the bus right away.

Today is the last day of my business trip. I check out of my hotel and head for the bus terminal.

Normally, I would have boarded the express bus immediately, but not today.

First, I headed to the Matsumoto bus terminal counter. Here, you tell them that you want to use the coworking space on the 7th floor, and you will be given a user guide to read through. After paying 500 yen, you will be given an “Entrance Card” and a 100 yen coupon coupon that can be used at restaurants in the building.

On the back of the “Entrance Pass” you will find the PIN number to unlock the door to the coworking space and the wi-fi password.　Please be careful not to lose it.

After registering and paying at the bus terminal on the first floor, take the elevator to the seventh floor.

In addition to the coworking space, there are restaurants on the 7th floor, including Saizeriya and Gyoza no Ousho.

Immediately unlock the door using the PIN code on the entrance pass!
Opening the door, there were three guests ahead of us that day, but it is spacious and roomy, so we find our favorites from the available seats.

All tables are equipped with a power supply as well as USB power and stand lights.
It’s an open space, so it’s not suitable for online meetings such as ZOOM.

But it’s great if you need a place to concentrate.

For lunch, I went to Saizeriya next door and used the 100 yen coupon I got here!
Originally an inexpensive lunch, now became even less expensive! It’s a great deal!

This time we stayed for 4 hours with lunch in between.

To check out, simply return the entrance pass to the box near the entrance/exit.

For me, the table was a little low and made my hips and back hurt a little.
Next time I thought of bringing a computer stand.

But other than that, it was comfortable, and I was able to get a lot of work done.

The express bus we boarded is also equipped with power and WIFI.

Highwaybus.com for reservations of highway buses from Matsumoto to Shinjuku.

Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto
A modern, stylish budget hotel specializing in overnight stays, located directly near the Matsumoto bus terminal.

Some benefits:

  • Drink service for early check-in
  • Tea and rice for the evening meal service
  • Large baths modeled after Shirakotsu Onsen hot springs
  • Children (elementary schoolers and younger) can stay for FREE!

Hotel M Matsumoto
Located right in front of the Matsumoto Bus Terminal on the 6th floor of a building that also houses Maruzen Bookstore and Daiso, this capsule and business hotel offers the best value for money.

Some benefits:

  • Bright and clean, its appealing for women solo-travelers
  • Lounge is stocked with comic books
  • Large public bath

Iroha Grand Hotel Matsumoto Ekimae
It is about 400m, or 5 minutes away from the Matsumoto bus terminal.

Some benefits:

  • Stylish and elaborate/ often used for weddings
  • Recommended for girls trips, etc.

  • 2023.12.21

Shortage of rental cars in Matsumoto has become chronic! | Using the Kanbayashi bus stop on the Nagano Expressway for a lesser known store

I often travel to Matsumoto by highway bus or limited express train Azusa for public and private trips, and rent a car in Matsumoto. However, these days the car is always full and cannot be rented.

Toyota Rent-A-Car too crowded?


Since I am a corporate member of Toyota Rent-A-Car, I usually use Toyota Rent-A-Car, but recently, not only Toyota Rent-A-Car, but also Nippon Rent-A-Car, ORIX Rent-A-Car, and Station Rent-A-Car are all full and cannot be rented.

In the midst of all this,We found Nico Nico Rent-a-Car Matsumoto Airport Road Kanbayashi branch within a 3-4 minute walk from the bus stop [Nagano Road Kanbayashi] on the way to Matsumoto on the highway bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal!

We decided to give it a try right away. The first bus stop I get off at “probably in the middle of nowhere.”
I know Nico Nico Rent-a-Car is cheap, but is it safe?” I was anxious, but I had no other choice.

First, book an express bus and a Nico Nico Rental Car!

I booked a highway bus through highwaybus.com. By booking through this site, you can get off at a bus stop not at Matsumoto bus terminal but Nagano-do Kanbayashi. The fare between both stops are the same.

Next, make a reservation for Nico Nico Rent-a-Car. This too was easily reserved via the Internet.
Basic rates are low, but optional insurance waivers and other options are considerably more expensive than major car rental companies. Also, it differs from the major car rental companies in that they add mandatory fees such as car navigation fees.

Successfully completed the reservation!
On the day of the event (2023.12.21), I first headed to the Hino bus stop as usual to board the expressway bus.

Thursday, December 21, 2023

8:37 Board the highway bus from Hino bus stop for Matsumoto, 2 minutes behind schedule. We will head for Kanbayashi on the Nagano road.

10:04 Arrive at Kanbayashi, Nagano 4 minutes earlier than scheduled. Get off the highway bus.

Around the Kanbayashi bus stop on Nagano Road…
There is nothing…it is a relaxing view with fields spread out.

I wonder if there really is a car rental agency here…
I looked at Google Map with some anxiety and found a convenience store (7-Eleven) and a gas station right next to it. The Nico Nico Rent-A-Car is attached to this gas station.

Exit the highway onto the public road and turn left (south). As soon as you pass under the highway, you will see a 7-Eleven and a gas station on your right.

Easily reach a gas station.
This is the rental car procedure in this store. The receptionist was kind and courteous.
The car is a little older. It appears to be safe to drive.
Fees are also reasonable.

Once you have set your navigation system, you are ready to go.
This time, since our business was in the Kamikochi area, it was advantageous to avoid the congestion in downtown Matsumoto.

Then, return.

First, we will go to Apollo Station Matsumoto Airport Road SS/Misuzu Sekiyu Co.
Nico Nico Rent-A-Car Matsumoto Airport Dori Kanbayashi Branch is attached to Apollo Station Matsumoto Airport Road SS.

17:57
Arrival and return procedures while refueling

A gas station is attached to the building, making it convenient for fueling up when returning the car.

The highway bus stop “Nagano-dojinbayashi” is about a 2-3 minute walk away.

The disadvantage is that there are few stores and restaurants along the highway.
There is a 7-Eleven next door, but there is no souvenir shop or cafe, so there is no place to adjust your time.

I also finished returning my rental car 30 minutes before the bus departure time.

It is completely dark, and you have to wait for the express bus at a bus stop on the highway in winter.
However, the staff of Nico Nico Rent-a-Car told me, “The bus stop is just around the corner and it is cold outside, so please take a break inside the store until it’s time to go.” I decided to use a chair and table inside the store until the time was up. It was warm and comfortable.

18:30
Depart from the store and go to the bus stop on the highway.

18:32
Arrive at the entrance to the bus stop.
Climb the stairs toward the highway, turn around, and you will see a Nico Nico Rent-a-Car store and a 7-Eleven right there.
It’s right under your nose.

First, the bus stop at Kanbayashi on Nagano Road
It is different from bus stops in Tokyo and is designed for cold climates.
The waiting room has a door.

The feet and ceiling are also sealed to protect from rain and wind. ^^
Moreover, it is clean and safe.

18:43
The bus to Shinjuku arrived 7 minutes later than scheduled.
Boarded an express bus and departed for Tokyo!

I’m toasting alone with beer and snacks I bought at 7-Eleven ^^.

Express buses make approximately 20 round trips daily between Shinjuku ⇔ Shinbayashi-Matsumoto Bus Terminal in Nagano Province!

For details and reservations, please contact [ highway-bus.com ].

  • 2023.08.04

Go to Kamikochi by Rental Bicycle!

Kamikochi is the southern gateway to the Northern Alps and a hotspot for mountain resorts.
For environmental conservation purposes, driving by private car is forbidden.

If you are driving from Tokyo, you should park at Sawando on the Matsumoto side of Nagano Prefecture and then take a 30 minute bus or 25 minute taxi ride to Kamikochi.If you are coming from the Takayama side in Gifu Prefecture, you can park your car at the Akandana Parking Lot in Hirayu Onsen and take a 25 minute bus ride.

While most people go to Kamikochi by bus, it is also possible to bike to Kamikochi.

We decided to use Hirayu Onsen’s Okuhida Base to cycle in Kamikochi.

The route is from Hirayu Onsen (Okuhida Onsenkyo) to Kamikochi and back.
The details are as follows.
Hirayu Onsen ⇔ (Awa Pass｜Old Route 158) ⇔ Nakanoyu Onsen ⇔ (Kama Tunnel/ Kamikochi Tunnel) ⇔ Taishoike ⇔ Kamikochi Bus Terminal

*The Awa Pass (the old road on National Route 158) is closed from early November to late June due to snow accumulation.

Hirayu Onsen→Kamikochi｜Outbound 2hr 30 mins~
Kamikochi→Hirayu Onsen｜Inbound　2hrs~

Including the time spent in Kamikochi, the activity will last approximately 6 hours.

Course for this time (Google map)
*Time for walking is shown.

*Thehighway bus fromTokyotoHirayu Onsen (Okuhida Onsen-kyo), the gateway to Kamikochi, is convenient.
　A direct highway bus from Basta Shinjuku takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes (2 rest stops are included).
　 >> Details of the highway bus from Basta Shinjuku to Hirayu Onsen (Okuhida Hot Spring Resort) to Hida Takayama

7:30

Two minutes walk from Hirayu Bus Terminal where direct buses from Shinjuku, Takayama and Matsumoto and shuttle buses to Kamikochi arrive and depart.
“ Okuhida Base Arrive at
This is an unmanned bike rental station with long opening hours, and you can rent a bike from 7:00 in the morning.

Basta Shinjuku⇔Hirayu Bus Terminal

7:45

Located in Hirayu Hot Springs at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level Okuhida Base at Hirayu Onsen, about 1,200 meters above sea level!

自転車では安房トンネルなどの中部縦貫道は通行できないので
国道158号旧道で安房峠（標高1,790m）を目指します。

At a stretch, it raises the elevation about 600 meters.

This road has extremely little traffic and is comfortable, but because it is an old road, the road surface is rough in some places. Please keep this in mind.

Hooting and hollering, we made our way through the beautiful forest that laid ahead.

8:40

Awa Pass (elevation 1,790m)

Here you arrive at the border between Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture and Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.

From this point the road starts to go downhill. It can be dangerous, so remember to ride down slowly.

Everyone cycled down the mountain pass with spectacular views of the Northern Alps, including Yake-dake (焼岳).

9:05

Nakanoyu Hot Spring

From here on out, the road can be a little uneven and rough at spots. There are sharp turns so remember to ride the bike down slowly.

9:20

Arrive at the entrance/exit of the Chubu Jukan Expressway (Awa Tunnel)

Take the national highway down toward Kama Tunnel, Kamikochi, and Matsumoto.
You can leisurely ride a bicycle downhill without pedaling here.

From here we could see a beautiful lookout point, including a beautiful river.

9:25

Next, we arrived at the Nakano-yu store. From here, it is a connecting road to Kamikochi, where private cars are restricted.

A security guard will approach you from the convenience store inside.
At first I felt nervous..I thought I got in trouble! But actually they just gave me a card with route directions and tips about riding to Kamikochi.
They even waved me off and told me to be careful!

From here, we cycled through the difficult Kama Tunnel.
Length: 1,310m
Maximum gradient: 10.9%

The Kama Tunnel alone increases in elevation by around 100m!
Private cars are restricted, but there are quite a few large busses, taxis, and cars, so be careful!

Once you leave Kama Tunnel, you’ll come across Kamikochi Tunnel, which is about 588m long!

When we got out of here…

9:50

Yake-dake and Taisho Pond could be seen at a glance!
We felt rewarded for our hard work so far.

Kamikochi is truly very beautiful. Being able to enjoy this wonderful scenery at our own pace felt particularly rewarding.

After that there was gradual uphill slope ahead.

10:15

But then… we finally arrived at Kamikochi Bus Terminal!


Park your bicycle at the bicycle parking lot and walk to the Kappa Bridge from here.

I wanted to enjoy more walks such as Myojin Pond, but I had other work to do, so I had to return early…

Nevertheless…

We enjoyed exploring Kamikochi until it was time to go.

11:10

Next we departed from Kamikochi Bus Terminal.

There is a slight descent that continues to the Kama Tunnel.

Once you’re in the tunnel however, it is a steep descent!

We made it through, but there were a lot of cars around.
It can be dangerous, so please descend slowly and carefully.

We passed through the tunnel and returned to the Nakanoyu store.

But… the most difficult part of the route laid ahead… ^^;;

From the Nakanoyu store to Awa Pass, the elevation jumps from 1,315 meters to 1,790 meters.
It is an uphill slope.

As a 50 year old, these roads were really testing me, but alas…I had to go!

12:00

We returned to Nakanoyu Hot Spring.
From here, it continues uphill.

Even with the electric bicycles, it was at times challenging.

12:30

But we were finally able to make it to Awa Pass!

Once you get to this point, all you have to do is go down.

安全第一にゆっくりくだります。

13:00

We finally arrived back at Okuhida Base in Hirayu Onsen!

We returned our rental bicycles and went straight to the hot springs to relieve our panting feet ^^

Some useful advice:

Biking to Kamikochi includes many steep slopes, so a lot of battery consumption takes place. TO ensure that you have enough bike power, we recommend you using ECO mode to conserve energy.

If you are concerned about your stamina or batteries, we recommend renting spare batteries (1,000 yen).

自転車で行ける
日本最高峰！標高2,702m
絶景の乗鞍スカイライン
サイクリング体験記

Okuhida Base

Okuhida Base is located a 2-minute walk from Hirayu Bus Terminal, the gateway to Okuhida, and offers bicycle rental and LUUP (electric kickboard share).

727 Hirayu, Okuhida Onsenkyo, Takayama City, Gifu 506-1433, Japan
Located in the former Nakada store
240m from Hirayu Bus Terminal (2-3 minutes walk)
【Business Hours｜Lending and Return Hours】 7:00-17:00
* Please make online reservation by 12:59pm on the day of use.

Official WEB site

※東京から上高地の玄関口「平湯温泉（奥飛騨温泉郷）」までは高速バスが便利です。
バスタ新宿から直通の高速バスで約4時間30分（２回の休憩時間が含まれます。）

Shinjuku – Hirayu Bus Terminal (to Hida Takayama)
Adults 5,800 yen – 6,200 yen
Children 2,900 yen – 3,100 yen
Details, timetable, and reservations

Keio Bus LINE official account opened!

You can add them as a friend on your LINE Account.

Okuhida Base
Okuhida Base provides e-bike (electric bicycles) rental and electric kickboard LUUP sharing services.
Located a 2-minute walk from the Hirayu Bus Terminal at the entrance to Okuhida Onsenkyo, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
727 Hirayu, Okuhida Onsenkyo, Takayama City, Gifu 506-1433, Japan
e-bike
Rental start time 7:00
Rental end time 17:00

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