Trains & Transport
No car needed — scenic trains and buses across Japan
Journey Legs — Tap to Expand
🏨 → 🚇 → 🚉 Richmond Hotel Asakusa → Shinjuku Station METRO expand_more
Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa
Check out, head to Asakusa Station
Metro → Shinjuku Station
Ginza Line → Marunouchi Line (transfer at Akasaka-mitsuke) or Tsukuba Express + Yamanote
~30 min
Shinjuku Station
Board Fuji Excursion from Platform 9/10 (JR side)
Tight timing — allow 45+ min buffer. Shinjuku is huge and the Fuji Excursion platform is deep in the JR section.
Tokyo → Kawaguchiko
expand_more
Tokyo → Kawaguchiko
Train
Fuji Excursion (Limited Express)
Operator
Fujikyu Railway
Duration
~2 hours from Shinjuku
JR Pass
Partial — pay ~¥1,500 supplement for Fujikyu section
What's special
Panoramic windows designed for Mt Fuji viewing. Sakura tunnels in April. Direct from Shinjuku — no transfer at Otsuki.
Sit on the RIGHT side for Mt Fuji views. Take the 7:30AM departure for best Fuji reflection.
"There is an excursion train to the Five Lakes Area — direct, scenic, and no transfer needed." — r/JapanTravel
"Insane Fuji sakura views from observatory car — worth every yen." — r/JapanTravel
⏳ Not booked yet
🚉 → 🚶 → 🏨 Kawaguchiko Station ↔ hotel WALK expand_more
Kawaguchiko Station
Arrive via Fuji Excursion
Walk or taxi to hotel
Most Kawaguchiko hotels offer station pickup — confirm with hotel
~5-10 min
Kawaguchiko hotel
Lake Kawaguchiko area
Kawaguchiko → Matsumoto
expand_more
Kawaguchiko → Matsumoto
Train
Fujisan View Express → Limited Express Azusa
Operator
Fujikyu Railway + JR East
Duration
~2.5 hours total (45 min + 1h45m with transfer at Otsuki)
JR Pass
Azusa covered · Fujisan View Express not (private railway)
What's special
Fujisan View Express has wood-panelled cafe interior. Azusa cuts through the Kofu Basin — carpeted with cherry and peach blossoms in April. Green Car has kaiseki meals.
Green Car seats bookable same day. Stop at Kofu for a station bento.
"Alps blooming like crazy — best value." — r/JapanTravel
⏳ Not booked yet
🏨 → 🚶 → 🚌 Matsumoto Station → Dormy Inn → Bus Terminal WALK expand_more
Matsumoto Station
Arrive via Limited Express Azusa
Walk to Dormy Inn Matsumoto
~5 min walk from station east exit
~5 min
Dormy Inn Matsumoto
Drop bags, explore Matsumoto Castle
Departure — Day 6
Dormy Inn Matsumoto
Check out
Walk to Matsumoto Bus Terminal
Adjacent to Matsumoto Station — retrace your steps
~5 min
Matsumoto Bus Terminal
Board Alps Highway Bus to Takayama
Matsumoto → Takayama
expand_more
Matsumoto → Takayama
Transport
Alps Highway Bus — NO direct train exists
Operator
Alpico / Nohi Bus
Duration
~2.5 hours
JR Pass
Not covered (~¥4,400)
What's special
Crosses the Japanese Alps — one of the most spectacular mountain routes in Japan. High altitude means late-blooming cherry blossoms in mid-April.
Can stop at Kamikochi (stunning alpine valley) mid-route if timing works.
"Norikura Pass sakura = peak Japan — better than Swiss trains." — r/JapanTravel
Alt
Train via Nagoya (Shinano + Hida, ~4 hrs, JR Pass covered — but much longer)
⏳ Not booked yet
🚌 → 🚶 → 🏨 Takayama Bus Terminal ↔ Oyado Koto no Yume WALK expand_more
Takayama Bus Terminal
Arrive from Matsumoto · adjacent to JR Takayama Station
Walk to Oyado Koto no Yume
Head east along Kokubunji-dori — flat, signposted
~12 min
Oyado Koto no Yume
Traditional ryokan on the Miyagawa River
Takayama → Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go
expand_more
Takayama → Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go
Transport
Nohi Bus (two legs)
Operator
Nohi Bus
Duration
~50 min to Shirakawa-go + ~1h15m to Kanazawa
JR Pass
Not covered (~¥3,600 total)
What's special
Only practical way to visit Shirakawa-go UNESCO thatched-roof village. Bus route is popular — book ahead.
Arrive Shirakawa-go before 10am to beat tour buses.
"Shirakawa thatch roofs under sakura — train beats bus 10x... Gran Class kaiseki = luxury." — r/JapanTravel
Alt
Skip Shirakawa-go → Hida + Hokuriku Shinkansen (~2 hrs, JR Pass covered, dramatic river gorges)
⏳ Not booked yet
🚌 → 🚶 → 🏨 Kanazawa Station ↔ Onyado Nono Kanazawa WALK expand_more
Kanazawa Station
Arrive via Nohi Bus from Shirakawa-go
Walk to Onyado Nono Kanazawa
East exit, ~3 min walk — hotel is right by the station
~3 min
Onyado Nono Kanazawa
Hot spring hotel, steps from Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa → Osaka
expand_more
Kanazawa → Osaka
Train
Hokuriku Shinkansen → Limited Express Thunderbird
Operator
JR West
Duration
~2h15m total (35 min shinkansen + transfer at Tsuruga + Thunderbird)
JR Pass
Fully covered
What's special
Thunderbird passes Lake Biwa (Japan's largest lake). Observation lounge car. Premium seafood meals available.
Sit on the LEFT side for Lake Biwa views. Book via SmartEX app.
"Sea coast sakura + Kenrokuen combo perfect." — r/JapanTravel
⏳ Not booked (SmartEX app in to-do)
🏨 → 🚇 → 🚉 Osaka Station ↔ Swissotel Namba + Namba → Shin-Osaka METRO expand_more
Arrival — Day 8
Osaka Station
Arrive via Thunderbird
Metro → Namba
Midosuji Line (red line) — direct, no transfer
~20 min
Swissotel Nankai Namba
Above Nankai Namba Station — connected via underground walkway
Departure — Day 13
Swissotel Nankai Namba
Check out
Metro → Shin-Osaka Station
Midosuji Line (red line) — direct, no transfer
~15 min
Shin-Osaka Station
Board Hikari Shinkansen → Tokyo
ICOCA card works for both metro rides. Buy at any station machine.
Osaka → Tokyo
expand_more
Osaka → Tokyo
Train
Hikari Shinkansen (bullet train)
Operator
JR Central
Duration
~2h53m
JR Pass
Fully covered (Hikari/Kodama only — Nozomi NOT covered)
What's special
300km/h bullet train. Mt Fuji views en route through Shizuoka Prefecture.
Reserve Seat E (right-side window) for Mt Fuji views. Grab an ekiben at Shin-Osaka station.
"Check out some ekiben at the station! Sit right side for Fuji." — r/JapanTravel
⏳ Not booked yet
🚉 → 🚶 → 🏨 Tokyo Station → Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8 WALK expand_more
Tokyo Station
Arrive via Hikari Shinkansen
Walk to hotel
Yaesu East exit → walk south through Ginza 8-chome
~15 min
Royal Park Canvas Ginza 8
Final 2 nights in Tokyo
Alternative: one stop on Ginza Line from Shinbashi Station (~5 min) if carrying heavy bags.