Traveling to NORTHSTAR Kamikochi Snowshoe Tour by Bus/Car
Kamikochi is deep into the mountains of Nagano, and so traveling here can be complicated sometimes. If you are participating in any of our CUSTOM TOURS, please follow our guide below to help you when traveling. If you are participating in the Regular Half Day Kamikochi Tour, please meet at NORTHSTAR.
Custom Kamikochi/Norikura
START TIME: 8:00 or 9:00 AM
Bus 🚌 8:00❌ 9:00✅
Car 🚙 ✅
Taxi 🚕 ✅
Stay 🏠 ✅
>>More Information
**Notice for the Custom Kamikochi Full Day Tour:
For those who want to do a full day Tour to Kappa Bridge should plan on a 8:00 AM starting time. As it is a long tour a 9:00 AM start may not guarantee reaching the bridge depeding on physical fitness and weather. It is best to plan for an early start to allow more time to enjoy the tour.
Bus: Arrival @ Nakanoyu 9:05 *Custom Tour Only*
There is a bus from Takayama to Matsumoto that stops direcetly in front of the entrance of Kamikochi (Nakanoyu). This is a Highway Bus and a RESERVATION is REQUIRED before riding the bus.
From Takayama Bus Center take the 7:50 bus towards Hirayu/Matsumoto. The bus will stop in Hirayu before heading towards Matsumoto. Please get off at Nakanoyu Bus Stop. You will see a large gate and tunnel alongside a river. The guide will meet you near the big gate in front of the tunnel into Kamikochi. If you ordered any rental equipment, please double check with staff so that it is ready upon meet up.
7:50 Takayama Bus Center (Bus)
8:55 Hirayu Onsen
9:05 Nakanoyu Bus Stop
K-26 Nakanoyu Bus Stop
Kama Tunnel- Meeting point for the Tour (1 minute walk from Nakanoyu Bus Stop)
Traveling by Car:
If you are traveling by car, please meet at Northstar Outdoor Adventures in Norikura. Here we will get rentals fitted and do a final check of gear before heading out in the Northstar shuttle towards Kamikochi. For full day tours we would recommend an early start time (~8:00am) and so please double check with the guide. There is free parking available in front of our building.
Address: 390-1513 Nagano Prefecture, Matsumoto City, Azumi 4306-4
Traveling back AFTER the tour
To Takayama
If you are heading towards Hirayu-Onsen or Takayama after the tour you will need to get on one of the buses from the timetable below. There are only a few buses so the guide will adjust the schedule to fit the bus time. A reservation is required to ride this bus. If you plan to catch the 16:13 bus return to Takayama please understand that arriving at Kappa Bridge is not guarunteed as getting on the bus at the appropriate time will be the main priority. Please be flexible and plan accordingly.
Departs Nakanoyu Bust Stop at 13:13 or 14:23 or 19:03 towards Hirayu-Onsen/Takayama
To Matsumoto
If you are heading towards Matsumoto after the tour you will need to get on one of the buses from the timetable below. There are only a few buses so the guide will adjust the schedule to fit the bus time. Please communicate this with the guide before the Tour.
Departs Nakanoyu Bus Stop at 13:005 or 15:05 or 16:05 or 18:05 towards Matsumoto.
By Car/Taxi
If you parked at Northstar to start the tour, staff/guide will pick you up at the entrance of Kamikochi and take you back to Northstar to finish the tour. We can also arrange to drop you off at any nearby locations/hotels.
Final Preparations
There are many ways to get to Northstar’s Kamikochi Tour starting points. Please make sure to communicate with the guides through email before the tour about how you will travel here. Make sure to reserve rental boots and clothing before hand if you are coming by bus or taxi. Check out our other blog posts for more information in the links below.