We appreciate the commissions we earn when you use our affiliate link to purchase the Hokuriku Arch Pass: kenshoquest.com/recommends/hokuriku-arch-pass/
Thank you so much, your videos have been a great resource for planning our trip. We are starting in Tokyo then heading to Hokone, 5 lakes area before going to Matsumoto or Nagano. Any tips around train passes for that trip would be appreciated.
Hi. If you will visit both Hakone and the Mt. Fuji 5 Lakes area within 3 days, you may want to get the Fuji Hakone Pass offered by Odakyu Railway. Here's our affiliate link to purchase on Klook: geni.us/fujihakonepass and here's the Odakyu website with more info: www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/fujihakone/
If i am planning to go from kyoto to takayama then matsomoto and then to kamikochi and back to tokyo are there bullet trains in between these cities or are the regional trains as faster and cheaper
Hi, I think the Hokuriku Arch Pass is the perfect fit for your itinerary as it does have bullet trains for most of the Journey. However, while it will take you from Kyoto > Kanazawa > Toyama > Nagano > Tokyo, it does not take you directly to Matsumoto, Kamikochi or Matsumoto. For these destinations you will need to pay separately on arrival. There are no passes for these regions. Please check out this video for more information: th-cam.com/video/Z_BlVF-h_xk/w-d-xo.html
Hi, it will be the beginning of snow season so you might see some snow but it probably won't be much. Later December will start to see significant snow with Jan and Feb being the snowiest.
Hi, there are no direct trains with no stops from Tokyo to Matsumoto. The fastest way is via the hokuriku shinkansen but you will need to change in Nagano. Or you can take an express train on the Chuo line which is more direct but it has many stops along the way as well.
Best video i've seen on Matsumoto area. I appreciate the maps you include to help us with distance, the suggestions and the short and valuable information about the sites. Excellent footage, all compact & great info. Excellent job!
Great video and so many places to visit in Hokurika Arch Pass. Thinking of doing this in November, but do you think we can cover all this areas in 7 days? Travelling to Japan for the first time so please can you suggest how many days in Kanazawa, Nagano, Mutsumoto etc. Highly appreciate. Thanks
Hi, thank you for the information. We are going to visit Japan start from Fukuoka and finish in Tokyo, before flight back from Narita to UK. I have a question. Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass also valid from Osaka to Tokyo? Thank you.
The Hokuriku Arch Pass does not include the Tokaido Shinkansen, which directly connects Osaka to Tokyo. It follows an arched path that goes through Kanazawa. It includes the Thunderbird Limited Express train and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Here’s our video explaining the Hokuriku Arch Pass: th-cam.com/video/Z_BlVF-h_xk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qx5CqZYnySbI8I98
How did you meet your wife ? Was it tough initially because you two are a different race ? Asking because I'm assuming there would be a social and cultural barrier ? Do enlighten me
Thanks! This is helpful. My family is coming from Texas this week and returning home the 24th. I realize the focus here is Matsumoto but I have a question about Nagano and the train station. We are thinking about attending the fireworks on the 23rd. I am worried about getting back to Tokyo the same evening because our returning flight to the US is the next day at 6PM. I have heard the train station in Nagano is quite small and wonder if there is a chance given the very large crowds for that event if we might miss the train. Any advice on whether or not it might be too risky given 400k+ people are expected? Thank you!
Hi, glad it's helpful :) Yes, Nagano Station is on the smaller side. However, if you are taking the shinkansen and have a reserved seat then there should be no problem.Japan is very orderly even with huge crowds. The key is to have a reserved seat on whichever train you take. Good luck!
So grateful for your videos! We will be in Japan for 11 days in Oct with our 10 month old and 3 year old. First 3 or 4 nights in Tokyo then starting the arch. Our last night or two will be in Kyoto before flying out of Osaka. We really want to see Takayama, Shirakawago, Matsumoto, Knazawa, and possibly Toyama. How would you break up 5-6 nights at these locations? Second question is: is the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass worth over the arch pass with our intended itinerary? Thanks for all your help!
Hi, if you are planning on renting a car, which we highly recommend, then you don't need the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. By renting a car you can easily visit both Shirakawa-go or even better Ainokura as well as Takayama. But if you are not then this pass might be the better way to go since getting to Shirakawa-go and Takayama will be difficult. Though, you could also take a tour bus from Kanazawa. Whatever you choose, we recommend you spend a night or two in Matsumoto then make Kanazawa your base to visit all the other places. With the Hokuriku Arch Pass you can take the shinkansen from Kanazawa to Toyama as well as all the way to Tsuruga which is the last station of the Shinkansen. So also consider how quickly you want to get to Kyoto. You're going to love this region, your itinerary is great :)
We have purchased the Hokuriku Arch pass and are considering a day trip from Kanazawa to Matsumoto (thanks to your video), returning to Kanazawa the same night (we're booked for 3 nights). Our original plan was to proceed to Tokyo the next day. Would you recommend just staying at Matsumoto for the night and continuing to Tokyo from there? Since the trip to Matsumoto is not included in the pass, do we have to wait until we arrive in Nagano to purchase tickets for Shinano Express or is there a way to purchase it in advance? Also, how challenging is it to reserve seats from Nagano to Tokyo. Alternatively, can we pre-book reserved seats for our entire (hokuriku) itinerary all at once? Thank you!
Hi, we do recommend spending a night in Matsumoto since it takes a lot of time to get there and there is a lot to see and do. You can purchase your ticket from Nagano to Matsumoto from the JR Kanazawa station ticketing machine or from Klook: geni.us/shinkansen For using the Hokuriku Arch Pass, yes you can reserve all your seats at once either at the ticketing machine or if the ticketing office isn't busy they can help you too. Otherwise, they will only book a couple for you. Do note, that some of the shinkansens on the Hokuriku route are reserved only, such as the Kagayaki. We'll be releasing a video soon showing how you can make a seat reservation and change them if needed.
Thanks, I didn't know these other places to visit appart from the castle. I recommend also the wasabi places where a short movie of Akira kurosawa was filmed, Dreams, where there is the stream and waterwheel
@@KenshoQuest thanks for all your videos on japan; i last went there 12 years ago and finally go back this year for 80 days going all over the country. your videos help a lot to prepare the trip :)
We appreciate the commissions we earn when you use our affiliate link to purchase the Hokuriku Arch Pass: kenshoquest.com/recommends/hokuriku-arch-pass/
Thank you so much, your videos have been a great resource for planning our trip. We are starting in Tokyo then heading to Hokone, 5 lakes area before going to Matsumoto or Nagano. Any tips around train passes for that trip would be appreciated.
Hi. If you will visit both Hakone and the Mt. Fuji 5 Lakes area within 3 days, you may want to get the Fuji Hakone Pass offered by Odakyu Railway. Here's our affiliate link to purchase on Klook: geni.us/fujihakonepass and here's the Odakyu website with more info: www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/fujihakone/
Thank you!!!
If i am planning to go from kyoto to takayama then matsomoto and then to kamikochi and back to tokyo are there bullet trains in between these cities or are the regional trains as faster and cheaper
Hi, I think the Hokuriku Arch Pass is the perfect fit for your itinerary as it does have bullet trains for most of the Journey. However, while it will take you from Kyoto > Kanazawa > Toyama > Nagano > Tokyo, it does not take you directly to Matsumoto, Kamikochi or Matsumoto. For these destinations you will need to pay separately on arrival. There are no passes for these regions. Please check out this video for more information: th-cam.com/video/Z_BlVF-h_xk/w-d-xo.html
Will there be snow in matsumoto during 1st week of december?
Hi, it will be the beginning of snow season so you might see some snow but it probably won't be much. Later December will start to see significant snow with Jan and Feb being the snowiest.
Doesn't a train go direct from Tokyo no stops to Matsumoto its like 2.5 hours
Hi, there are no direct trains with no stops from Tokyo to Matsumoto. The fastest way is via the hokuriku shinkansen but you will need to change in Nagano. Or you can take an express train on the Chuo line which is more direct but it has many stops along the way as well.
Best video i've seen on Matsumoto area. I appreciate the maps you include to help us with distance, the suggestions and the short and valuable information about the sites. Excellent footage, all compact & great info. Excellent job!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this video!
I'm actually visiting Matsumoto next week. I will definitely visit Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi.
Enjoy!
Great video and so many places to visit in Hokurika Arch Pass. Thinking of doing this in November, but do you think we can cover all this areas in 7 days? Travelling to Japan for the first time so please can you suggest how many days in Kanazawa, Nagano, Mutsumoto etc. Highly appreciate.
Thanks
Excellent video. Thank you, great photography and very informative 😊
I plan to visit Matsumoto in the end of December or early January.
wow I had never heard of this before but now I need to add that to my bucket list for when I go to Japan
Hi, thank you for the information. We are going to visit Japan start from Fukuoka and finish in Tokyo, before flight back from Narita to UK. I have a question. Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass also valid from Osaka to Tokyo? Thank you.
The Hokuriku Arch Pass does not include the Tokaido Shinkansen, which directly connects Osaka to Tokyo. It follows an arched path that goes through Kanazawa. It includes the Thunderbird Limited Express train and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Here’s our video explaining the Hokuriku Arch Pass:
th-cam.com/video/Z_BlVF-h_xk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qx5CqZYnySbI8I98
Thank you for this information, you have confirmed my decision to add Matsumoto to our itinerary. Do you think 2 nights is enough?
Yes, two nights should be good.
How did you meet your wife ? Was it tough initially because you two are a different race ? Asking because I'm assuming there would be a social and cultural barrier ?
Do enlighten me
We met at university. It’s never been an issue, as we’re both American.
So nice
Thanks! This is helpful. My family is coming from Texas this week and returning home the 24th. I realize the focus here is Matsumoto but I have a question about Nagano and the train station. We are thinking about attending the fireworks on the 23rd. I am worried about getting back to Tokyo the same evening because our returning flight to the US is the next day at 6PM. I have heard the train station in Nagano is quite small and wonder if there is a chance given the very large crowds for that event if we might miss the train. Any advice on whether or not it might be too risky given 400k+ people are expected? Thank you!
Hi, glad it's helpful :) Yes, Nagano Station is on the smaller side. However, if you are taking the shinkansen and have a reserved seat then there should be no problem.Japan is very orderly even with huge crowds. The key is to have a reserved seat on whichever train you take. Good luck!
So grateful for your videos! We will be in Japan for 11 days in Oct with our 10 month old and 3 year old. First 3 or 4 nights in Tokyo then starting the arch. Our last night or two will be in Kyoto before flying out of Osaka. We really want to see Takayama, Shirakawago, Matsumoto, Knazawa, and possibly Toyama. How would you break up 5-6 nights at these locations? Second question is: is the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass worth over the arch pass with our intended itinerary? Thanks for all your help!
Hi, if you are planning on renting a car, which we highly recommend, then you don't need the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. By renting a car you can easily visit both Shirakawa-go or even better Ainokura as well as Takayama. But if you are not then this pass might be the better way to go since getting to Shirakawa-go and Takayama will be difficult. Though, you could also take a tour bus from Kanazawa. Whatever you choose, we recommend you spend a night or two in Matsumoto then make Kanazawa your base to visit all the other places. With the Hokuriku Arch Pass you can take the shinkansen from Kanazawa to Toyama as well as all the way to Tsuruga which is the last station of the Shinkansen. So also consider how quickly you want to get to Kyoto.
You're going to love this region, your itinerary is great :)
@@KenshoQuest thank you. Where would you recommend renting a car? And do you have a favorite hotel in Matsumoto?
We have purchased the Hokuriku Arch pass and are considering a day trip from Kanazawa to Matsumoto (thanks to your video), returning to Kanazawa the same night (we're booked for 3 nights). Our original plan was to proceed to Tokyo the next day. Would you recommend just staying at Matsumoto for the night and continuing to Tokyo from there?
Since the trip to Matsumoto is not included in the pass, do we have to wait until we arrive in Nagano to purchase tickets for Shinano Express or is there a way to purchase it in advance? Also, how challenging is it to reserve seats from Nagano to Tokyo. Alternatively, can we pre-book reserved seats for our entire (hokuriku) itinerary all at once? Thank you!
Hi, we do recommend spending a night in Matsumoto since it takes a lot of time to get there and there is a lot to see and do. You can purchase your ticket from Nagano to Matsumoto from the JR Kanazawa station ticketing machine or from Klook: geni.us/shinkansen
For using the Hokuriku Arch Pass, yes you can reserve all your seats at once either at the ticketing machine or if the ticketing office isn't busy they can help you too. Otherwise, they will only book a couple for you. Do note, that some of the shinkansens on the Hokuriku route are reserved only, such as the Kagayaki.
We'll be releasing a video soon showing how you can make a seat reservation and change them if needed.
@@KenshoQuest thank you so much!!!
appreciate your advice on the transportation options from Kawaguchiko to Matsumoto
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks, I didn't know these other places to visit appart from the castle. I recommend also the wasabi places where a short movie of Akira kurosawa was filmed, Dreams, where there is the stream and waterwheel
Thanks for adding your recommendation!
@@KenshoQuest thanks for all your videos on japan; i last went there 12 years ago and finally go back this year for 80 days going all over the country. your videos help a lot to prepare the trip :)
@@polodhtip6061 We hope you have a wonderful time traveling all over Japan!
Thank you! We are going to stay in Matsumoto for 4 days in April 2024 and I've now put Gofukuji on my list as I hadn't known about it.
Have a wonderful time! Gofukuji is amazing.
Can you please tell about your itinerary? 😅 I am also planning for 4 day trip, it would be really helpful, thank you!