Kamikochi is always restricted to private cars and cannot be entered by private cars.
Therefore, if you are driving your own car, you will need to park your car at the Sawatari area parking lot and transfer to a local bus or cab. Therefore, we recommend that you visit Kamikochi by public transportation such as trains and buses.
The rules for local buses have changed since 2025.
Please note the new rules.
Matsumoto/Niijima ⇔ Kamikochi
The buses on the route are now fully reserved.
Starting in FY2025, buses from Niijima to Kamikochi will also be available by reservation only.
Reservations can only be made online or at the counter. Reservations by phone are not accepted.
From April 2024, buses on the Matsumoto – Takayama route will also be available by reservation only. Please be aware of this.
General directions from Tokyo area to Kamikochi
■ For Railroads ■
Approx. 10,370 yen (one-way for adults)
Shinjuku Station
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(JR Express Azusa)
Approx. 2 hours and 40 minutes
｜
Matsumoto Station
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(Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line )
Approx. 30 min.
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ShinshimashimaStation
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(local buses )*Reservations required; accepted one month prior to boarding date
Approx. 1 hr. 05 min.
｜
Kamikochi Bus Terminal
■ For express buses ■
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.
Basta Shinjuku / Shibuya Bus Terminal (Mark City) / Yaesu South Exit of JR Tokyo Station
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(Highway Bus, Sawayaka Shinshu-go )
Approx. 4 hours 30 minutes ~ 5 hours
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Kamikochi Bus Terminal
Save money from Shinjuku to Kamikochi! Convenient! A secret technique for accessing Kamikochi from Shinjuku!
Express buses that go directly to Kamikochi Bus Terminal are very popular and often fully booked because of their convenience.
Also, the price is somewhat expensive.
So, here’s a guide to a trick to make it a little cheaper and a little easier to get reservations! Here is a guide to the tricks that make it easier to make reservations.
1, via Hirayu Bus Terminal (Hirayu Onsen) How to go via
This method is to take an express bus from Shinjuku to Hida Takayama, get off at Hirayu Bus Terminal, and then transfer to a local bus bound for Kamikochi. After walking a lot in Kamikochi, it is recommended to take the bus back to Hirayu Bus Terminal and stay overnight at Okuhida Onsenkyo Hirayu Onsen or Fukuchi Onsen to relieve your fatigue.
Express buses between Shinjuku and Hirayu make 4-5 round trips per day.
2. How to go through Matsumoto
This method is to take a highway bus from Shinjuku to Matsumoto Bus Terminal, get off at Matsumoto Inter-mae Bus Stop or Matsumoto Bus Terminal, and transfer to the Matsumoto Railway Kamikochi Line and local buses.
It is recommended to stay the night before in Matsumoto, a mountain city that is the gateway to the Northern Alps, and to go to Kamikochi early in the morning.
Another attraction of the Shinjuku-Matsumoto highway bus is the large number of services.
Express buses between Shinjuku and Matsumoto make 24 round trips per day.
Highway Bus from Shinjuku to Kamikochi (Direct / via Hirayu / via Matsumoto) Comparison Chart 2025
| alignment From Shinjuku | Kamikochi | Hirayu (To Takayama) | Matsumoto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Bus Service | 3 round trips | 4-5 round trips | 24 round trips |
| Highway Bus Fare | 8,000 yen ~ (after a number N) 16,000 yen | 7,500 yen ~ (after a number N) 8,000 yen *Overnight flights are +500 yen. WEB coupon tickets 6,000 yen x 4 | 3,800 yen ~ (after a number N) 4,500 yen WEB coupon tickets 3,250 yen x 4 |
| Other than highway bus Fares for | long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana) | One way 1,500 yen Round trip 2,800 yen | Train + local bus 3,750 yen one way Matsumoto→Kamikochi Direct bus One way 4,450 yen |
| criterion one-way total fare | 8,000 yen ~ (after a number N) 16,000 yen | 9,000 yen ~ (after a number N) 9,500 yen | 7,550 yen ~ (after a number N) 8,950 yen |
| Highway bus journey time | Daytime flight: approx. 5 hours Night flight approx. 7 hours | Approx. 4 hours and 40 minutes | Approx. 3 hours and 20 minutes |
| Other than highway bus journey time *Excluding Transfers and waiting time | long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana) | Approx. 25 min. | Approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Approximate time required *Includes transit time | Daytime flight: approx. 5 hours Night flight approx. 7 hours | Approx. 5 hours and 20 minutes | Approx. 5 hours and 10 minutes ~ (after a number N) Approx. 6 hours |
| ⇓ Via Hirayu Details | ⇓ via Matsumoto Details |
